THE  *  *  *  *  * 

fS  REVENGE 


OR 

ROLAND 

AMD 

WILFRED 


BY  THE 

AUTHOR  OF 

;DGAR  FAIRFAX 


FLORENCE  N.  CRADDOCR 


7W- 


THE: 


Or 
ROLAND  AND  WILFRED 

BY 

FLORENCE  NIGHTINGALE  CRADDOCK 

Author  of  "The  Twin  Sisters  "  and  "  Edgar  Fairfax  " 


THE 

Hbbey  press 

PUBLISHERS 

114 
FIFTH    AVENUE 

Condon  NEW  YORK  Montreal 


Copyright,  1900, 

by 
THE 

press 


'NOT  IN  THE  VOID  OF  HEAVEN;  NOT  IN  THE  DEPTHS  OF  THE  SEA;  NOT 

BY  ENTERING  THE  ROCKY  CLIFFS  OF  THE  MOUNTAINS — NOT  IN  ANY 

OF  THESE  PLACES,  OR  BY  ANY  MEANS,  CAN  A  MAN  ESCAPE 

THE  CONSEQUENCES  OF  HIS  EVIL  DEED." 

.  The  Tripitaha  of  the  'Buddhists. 


2061711 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 
Howard  Lorimer 9 

CHAPTER  II. 
The  Handsome  Sergeant — Daisy  Carrington 13 

CHAPTER  III. 
Roland  and  His  Stepmother 18 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Roland  and  Wilfred 30 

CHAPTER  V. 
Mabelle  Frothingham 37 

CHAPTER  VI. 
The  Betrothal 46 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Farewell,  Love ;  My  Dream  of  Happiness  Is  Over 51 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
The  Father's  Story 55 


Contents. 

CHAPTER    IX. 
Death  of  Colonel  Lorimer  66 

CHAPTER  X. 
Cadet  Lorimer 69 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Belle  of  West  Po;nt 113 

CHAPTER   XII. 
The  Lovers'  Quarrel  and  the  Wounding  of  Frank  Lenox. .    143 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
Which  Tells  of  Wilfred's  Flight  and  Other  Things 157 

CHAPTER    XIV. 
The  Soldier's  Revenge 1 8 1 

CHAPTER   XV. 
Conclusion 1 96 


Till 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 


CHAPTER  I. 

I 

HOWARD  LORIMER. 

"Shades  of  evening,  close  not  o'er  us, 

Leave  our  lonely  bark  awhile; 
Morn,  alas !  will  not  restore  us 

Yonder  dear  and  fading  isle. 
Though  'neath  distant  skies  we  wander, 

Still  with  thee  our  thoughts  must  dwell : 
Absence  makes  the  heart  grow  fonder — 

Isle  of  beauty,  fare  thee  well !" 

IN  the  middle  of  May,  1861,  the  English 
steamship  "Polar  Star"  sailed  from  Liverpool 
for  New  York.  Among  the  first-class  passen- 
gers was  a  tall,  dark,  handsome  gentleman, 
apparently  about  twenty-five  years  of  age;  he 
had  the  easy,  well-bred  manner  of  a  person  in 
the  highest  ranks  of  life,  and  his  erect  bearing 
9 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

seemed  to  proclaim  him  a  soldier.  He  gave  his 
name  as  Howard  Lorimer. 

An  air  of  the  deepest  melancholy  pervaded 
his  whole  being.  He  stood  on  the  deck  watch- 
ing the  fast-disappearing  land,  and  his  eyes 
were  dimmed  with  tears.  "Oh,  England,  Eng- 
land, my  home,  I  shall  never  see  thee  again! 
Beloved  isle,  fare  thee  well!"  His  head  sank 
lower  and  lower  and  his  breast  heaved  with 
ill-suppressed  emotion. 

The  voyage  was  a  long  and  stormy  one.  Mr. 
Lorimer  kept  to  himself  and  scarcely  exchanged 
a  word  with  the  other  passengers. 

As  soon  as  the  ship  landed  he  hired  a  cab  and 
was  driven  to  the  Astor  House.  About  a  week 
later  he  went  to  the  nearest  recruiting  office 
and  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army. 

There  was  no  braver,  more  daring,  soldier 
than  Howard  Lorimer.  He  was  utterly  reck- 
less of  his  life,  and,  at  times,  seemed  almost  to 
court  death.  There  was  not  a  thing  about 
cavalry  that  he  did  not  know.  "He  must  have 
served  in  some  Emperor's  picked  guard,"  said 
the  colonel  of  his  regiment. 

Howard  Lorimer  won  the  respect  of  every 
JO 


Howard  Lorimer. 

one  around  him;  all  could  see  that  he  was  a 
gentleman  born,  but  he  was  very  silent  and 
reserved,  and  never  spoke  of  his  past  life.  His 
bravery  brought  rapid  promotion. 

During  a  hard-fought  battle  toward  the 
close  of  the  war,  Howard  Lorimer  was  danger- 
ously wounded,  and  when  he  became  conva- 
lescent he  was  given  leave  of  absence.  He 
went  to  Cape  May,  and  while  there  he  became 
acquainted  with  Roland  Blakiston,  his  wife, 
and  daughter  Adele.  Adele  was  very  pretty, 
and  Howard  fell  in  love  with  her,  but  he 
battled  with  his  love  for  a  long  time.  "I  have 
no  right  to  ask  any  woman  to  marry  me,"  he 
said  bitterly  to  himself. 

But  love  triumphed  in  the  end.  Howard 
went  to  Mr.  Blakiston  and  told  him  of  his  love 
for  Adele. 

"I  am  an  Englishman,  Mr.  Blakiston,"  he 
said;  "I  have  been  most  cruelly  wronged  and 
unjustly  treated,  and  I  have  left  England  for 
good." 

"I  ask  nothing  of  your  past  life,  Mr.  Lori- 
mer. I  know  the  splendid  record  you  bear  as 
a  soldier,  and  that  your  noble  qualities  have 

II 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

won  the  respect  of  every  one.  If  my  child 
loves  you,  you  have  my  consent  to  your  mar- 
riage." 

Adele  said  "Yes"  when  Howard  Lorimer 
asked  her  to  be  his  wife. 

Roland  Blakiston  was  president  of  the  Phil- 
adelphia banking  house  of  Blakiston  &  Co. 
He  had  two  sons,  but  Adele  was  the  only 
daughter.  He  was  a  millionaire,  and  her  dowry 
was  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

The  Civil  War  was  over,  but  Howard  Lori- 
mer entered  the  regular  army  as  Captain  of 
Troop  D,  — th  Cavalry,  and  was  ordered  to  a 
far  frontier  post. 

On  the  first  anniversary  of  her  marriage  a 
son  was  born  to  Adele,  and  he  was  named 
Roland.  To  Howard's  great  grief  Adele  died 
a  few  days  after  her  child's  birth.  She  left  a 
will,  dividing  her  dowry  evenly  between  her 
husband  and  her  son. 

Henry,  the  oldest  son  of  Roland  Blackiston, 
was  married,  and  he  and  his  wife  offered  to 
receive  little  Roland  and,  under  the  care  of 
friends,  the  infant  was  sent  to  Philadelphia. 


12 


The  Handsome  Sergeant. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE     HANDSOME    SERGEANT DAISY    CARRING- 

TON. 

NEARLY  a  year  after  Adele's  death  a  new 

recruit  reported  at  Fort .  He  was  about 

thirty  years  of  age,  tall,  with  a  powerful,  finely 
formed  and  graceful  figure.  He  had  a  dark 
complexion,  black  hair  and  eyes,  and  fine,  regu- 
lar features.  He  was  strikingly  handsome, 
but  at  times  there  was  an  expression  about  the 
mouth  and  a  sinister  look  in  his  eyes  that  would 
make  a  person  shrink  from  him  and  fear  to 
trust  him. 

Several  of  the  officers  were  in  the  room  when 
he  reported,  Captain  Lorimer  among  them. 
The  eyes  of  the  recruit  fell  on  the  Captain; 
both  started,  grew  pale,  and  their  eyes  for  a 
moment  remained  riveted  on  each  other. 

When  the  man  left  the  room  the  officers 
J3 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

said:  "Lorimer,  that  recruit  bears  a  striking 
resemblance  to  you,  and  you  both  seemed 
startled  at  the  sight  of  each  other." 

"Never  saw  him  before  in  my  life,"  Howard 
answered  carelessly. 

That  evening  when  the  new  private  was 
alone  in  his  quarters  in  the  barracks,  he  strode 
up  and  down.  There  was  a  look  of  deadly 
hatred  in  his  glittering  black  eyes,  and  his 
hands  were  convulsively  clenched. 

"D n  him,  curse  the  whole  house!"  he 

muttered  angrily  to  himself.  "So  he  goes  by 
the  name  of  Howard  Lorimer.  Oh,  how  I 
hate  your  whole  house  and,  Howard  Lorimer, 
my  hatred  shall  pursue  you  and  yours !" 

The  new  private,  who  went  by  the  name  of 
Rufus  Bennett,  was  the  handsomest  man  at 
the  fort,  and  the  striking  resemblance  between 
him  and  Captain  Lorimer  was  at  once  noticed 
and  talked  about.  He  was  far  above  those 
around  him,  with  the  bearing  and  manners  of 
a  gentleman,  and  had  undoubtedly  been  well 
educated. 

Private  Bennett  was  put  in  Lorimer's  troop. 
There  was  not  a  thing  about  cavalry  that  he 
J4 


The  Handsome  Sergeant. 

did  not  know,  and  he  was  soon  made  first  ser- 
geant. Although  a  splendid  soldier  he  had 
bad  traits;  he  was  fond  of  liquor,  and  his  pas- 
sion for  cards  seemed  to  amount  to  a  perfect 
mania.  He  had  more  means  than  any  of  the 
others,  and  used  the  money  liberally,  and  in 
this  way  he  became  a  favorite  with  some  of 
his  comrades.  There  was  no  one  who  thought 
Rufus  Bennett  was  his  right  name.  There 
was  a  way  about  him  and  a  slight  accent  in  his 
speech  that  proclaimed  him  a  foreigner. 

Colonel  Lindsay,  who  commanded  the  fort, 
declared  he  was  sure  Bennett  was  an  educated 
Frenchman,  who  for  some  reason,  probably 
not  a  creditable  one,  had  left  his  own  country. 

In  the  fall  of  187 — ,  Troop  D  was  ordered 
to  West  Point,  and  Captain  Lorimer  became 
one  of  the  tactical  officers. 

Among  the  officers  at  the  Academy  was 
Lieutenant  Carrington,  and  he  had  one  daugh- 
ter, Daisy.  She  was  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  a  fair  blonde,  very  pretty  and  a  belle 
among  the  officers.  Howard  Lorimer  was 
introduced  to  her  and  from  the  first  he  took  a 
great  liking  to  her. 

J5 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Captain  Lorimer's  courtship  was  not  a  very 
long  one,  and  every  one  congratulated  them 
when  the  engagement  was  announced.  The 
marriage  took  place  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Innocents,  and  then  Captain  and  Mrs.  Lorimer 
went  on  a  short  wedding  trip. 

Nora  McCloskey,  a  pretty  young  Irish  girl 
and  the  servant  of  Mrs.  Carrington,  was  a  great 
favorite  with  the  soldiers.  If  she  had  a  pref- 
erence for  any  one  it  seemed  to  be  for  Patrick 
O'Connell,  a  fine  young  Irishman. 

But  as  soon  as  Rufus  Bennett  became  ac- 
quainted with  Nora  he  began  to  pay  attention 
to  her.  O'Connell  did  not  take  this  tamely. 
He  showed  his  jealousy  and  dislike  very 
plainly,  and  finally  warned  the  sergeant  to 
keep  away  from  Nora. 

His  rival  answered  with  a  contemptuous 
sneer  that  made  the  Irishman's  blood  boil  in  his 
veins. 

"Nora,"  he  said,  angrily,  "yez  used  to  care  for 
me  before  that  Frinchman  came  here.  No  one 
knows  any  good  of  him,  and  it's  my  opinion 
that  he  had  to  run  away — " 

16 


The  Handsome  Sergeant. 

"How  dare  yez  spake  so?"  cried  Nora  in- 
dignantly; "he's  a  gintleman,  shure  an'  he  is." 

"Do  yez  think  yez  can  throw  me  over  for 
him?  Do  yez  think  Oi'll  tamely  submit  to  it?" 

Nora  made  no  answer. 

Neither  Lieutenant  nor  Mrs.  Carrington  had 
a  very  good  opinion  of  the  handsome  sergeant, 
and  they  anxiously  watched  his  attentions  to 
Nora.  At  length  the  pretty  servant  came  to 
her  mistress  and  told  her  she  was  going  to  be 
married. 

"To  whom,  Nora?     Sergeant  Bennett?" 

"Yis,  ma'am,"  Nora  replied,  with  a  blush. 

"Nora,  I  do  not  think  he  will  make  you  a 
good  husband,"  said  her  mistress  seriously. 
"Do  you  know  anything  of  his  past  life?" 

Nora  confessed  she  did  not. 

The  women  among  the  soldiers  declared 
that  Sergeant  Bennett  was  nice  enough,  but 
they  wouldn't  want  to  marry  him;  he  was  too 
fond  of  flirting  to  be  long  constant  to  any  one. 

In  spite  of  all  warnings,  Nora  insisted  on 
marrying  Sergeant  Bennett.  He  was  a  Roman 
Catholic  and  they  were  married  in  the  Church 
of  the  Sacred  Heart,  at  Highland  Falls. 

J7 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 


CHAPTER   III. 

ROLAND    AND    HIS    STEPMOTHER. 

ROLAND  LORIMER  was  six  years  old.  He 
was  the  picture  of  his  mother,  with  a  light 
complexion,  and  beautiful,  dark-brown  eyes 
and  hair.  Uncle  Harry  and  Aunt  Marion 
had  three  children,  but  Roland  was  a  great 
pet  with  them,  and  he  had  been  very  much  in- 
dulged. 

Howard  wrote  to  Henry  Blakiston  of  his 
marriage,  and  that  he  and  his  wife  would  stop 
at  Philadelphia  on  their  way  home  for  Roland. 

Aunt  Marion  told  her  little  nephew  that  his 
father  was  married  again,  and  that  now  he 
was  going  to  a  pretty  home  to  live  with 
papa  and  his  new  mamma.  Roland  burst  into 
a  violent  passion,  declaring  he  did  not  want 
any  new  mamma,  and  he  wouldn't  go  and  live 
with  her. 

Captain  Lorimer  laughed  when  he  read  Mrs. 
J8 


Roland  and  His  Stepmother. 

Blakiston's  letter  declaring  Roland's  childish 
jealousy. 

"He  will  get  over  it  when  he  sees  Daisy," 
he  thought. 

It  was  the  evening  of  Captain  and  Mrs.  Lori- 
mer's  expected  arrival  and  Roland  was  in  a 
fever  of  impatience  to  see  papa.  At  last  a 
carriage  drove  up  to  the  door.  Howard,  look- 
ing handsomer  than  ever,  alighted  and  helped 
out  Daisy.  She  was  attired  in  a  dark,  plain 
travelling  dress  and  made  a  pretty  picture. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Blakiston  greeted 
them  cordially.  Roland  rushed  up  to  his 
father,  his  little  face  beaming  with  joy. 
Howard  kissed  him  and  then  said:  "Now, 
Roland,  go  and  give  mamma  a  kiss." 

The  child  pouted  and  hesitated. 

"Roland,  do  as  I  bid  you,"  said  his  father, 
a  little  sternly. 

Roland  went  up  to  Daisy ;  she  clasped  him  in 
her  arms  and  kissed  him.  The  child  coldly 
submitted  to  her  embrace,  but  made  no  return. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Lorimer  remained  over 
night  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  next  day  went 
by  rail  to  West  Point.  It  was  just  tea-time 

\9 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

\vhen  they  arrived,  and  Mrs.  Carrington  was 
waiting  to  receive  them. 

Daisy  and  her  husband  went  up  to  their 
room  to  lay  aside  their  wraps.  It  was  small, 
but  had  been  newly  furnished,  and  showed  re- 
finement and  taste. 

"Do  you  like  it,  Daisy?"  asked  her  husband. 

"Yes,  Howard,  very  much.  How  pretty  it  is. 
Such  a  nice  little  home.  I  am  sure  I  shall  be 
happy  here." 

"I  hope  so,  my  wife,"  and  Howard  kissed  her 
blushing  cheek. 

They  went  down  into  the  dining-room, 
where  a  nice  tea  awaited  them. 

Roland  showed  a  positive  dislike  to  his  step- 
mother. He  was  sullen  and  silent,  and  paid 
no  attention  whatever  to  his  father's  com- 
mands, but  was  as  willful  and  disobedient  as 
he  possibly  could  be.  Howard's  patience  was 
sorely  tried,  and  more  than  once  he  felt  tempted 
to  resort  to  severity. 

"I  am  afraid  Roland  will  never  love  me," 
said  Daisy,  with  a  sigh;  "why  is  it  that  he 
seems  to  have  such  a  dislike  to  me?" 

"It  is  childish  jealousy,"  her  husband  an- 
20 


Roland  and  His  Stepmother. 

swered ;  "I  shall  teach  him  to  respect  and  obey 
you,  whether  he  loves  you  or  not." 

He  spoke  very  seriously  to  his  little  son. 

"You  must  call  Daisy  'mamma,'  and  mind 
her  as  you  do  me." 

"I  won't  mind  her,  she  isn't  my  mamma," 
cried  the  child,  angrily. 

"Hush,  Roland,"  said  his  father  sternly; 
"you  must  never  say  'I  won't'  to  me." 

One  evening  Daisy  had  company  to  tea,  her 
father  and  mother  among  them,  and  Roland 
acted  in  such  a  way  that  his  father  was  morti- 
fied and  angry.  Mrs.  Carrington  spoke  to 
him,  but  the  child  turned  away  without  an- 
swering. 

"Roland,  answer  Mrs.  Carrington,"  said  his 
father,  sharply. 

The  boy's  lips  were  compressed  with  a  force 
that  left  them  bloodless;  there  was  an  angry 
light  in  his  eyes.  He  was  in  one  of  his  most 
obstinate  fits  of  temper,  and  Howard  knew  it 
would  be  useless  to  try  to  enforce  obedience 
then. 

"Roland,  leave  the  room,"  he  said  in  a  low, 
stern  tone. 

2J 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Angry  as  he  was,  the  child  did  not  dare  to 
disobey. 

After  the  company  had  left,  Howard  turned 
to  his  wife. 

"It  will  not  do  to  let  Roland  go  on  in  this 
way.  I  shall  give  him  a  severe  whipping  and 
I  trust  it  will  be  a  lasting  lesson  to  him." 

"I  wouldn't,  Howard,"  his  wife  answered; 
"it  will  only  anger  him  and  do  no  good." 

"But  if  I  do  not  curb  this  jealousy  he  will 
become  unbearable.  I  am  afraid  that  only  a 
whipping  will  make  an  impression  on  him." 

"I  wouldn't  resort  to  it  this  time  at  least, 
Howard ;  tell  him  if  he  acts  so  again  you  will 
do  so,  and  keep  firm  to  your  word." 

Howard  took  Daisy's  advice,  and  he  had  a 
long,  serious  talk  with  his  son. 

"Remember,  Roland,"  he  concluded,  in  his 
sternest  tone,  "if  you  ever  act  so  again,  I  shall 
whip  you,  and  I  will  keep  my  word." 

A  few  days  later  Daisy  and  her  mother  went 
to  New  York,  and  the  former  bought  a  nice  toy 
for  Roland. 

The  next  morning    Daisy  called    her    little 
stepson  to  her,  and  offered  him  the  toy. 
22 


Roland  and  His  Stepmother. 

"I  don't  want  it^'  he  answered,  turning 
away. 

"Roland!"  his  father  said  sternly,  with  a 
warning  look. 

Roland's  face  flushed  with  anger.  Daisy 
pressed  him  to  take  the  toy.  The  child  sud- 
denly caught  it  from  her  hand  and  threw  it 
violently  from  him.  It  struck  a  fine  vase, 
knocking  it  over  and  breaking  it  to  fragments. 

Howard  turned  pale  with  anger.  "Roland, 
ask  mamma's  pardon  instantly!" 

"I  won't,  I  hate  her,"  Roland  answered, 
struggling  to  suppress  his  rising  sobs. 

His  father  took  his  hand  and  led  him  to  the 
foot  of  the  stairs.  "Go  up  to  my  room  and 
wait  there,"  he  said  in  a  low,  stern  tone. 

Then  Howard  called  the  servant  and  told 
her  to  clear  away  the  broken  vase.  As  he 
turned  to  go  upstairs  Daisy  caught  his  arm. 

"Howard,  you  are  so  angry,  you  will  half 
kill  Roland." 

"Daisy,"  he  said  reproachfully,  "do  you 
think  I  could  be  cruel  to  my  child?  Are  you 
afraid  to  trust  him  with  his  father?" 

Roland  was  standing  by  one  of  the  windows, 
23 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

and  he  turned  as  his  father  entered ;  there  was 
a  sullen  scowl  on  his  face,  and  a  proud,  defiant 
light  in  his  eyes. 

Howard  took  Daisy's  light  riding-whip 
from  a  drawer,  and  called  his  son  to  him.  He 
was  thoroughly  exasperated  with  Roland,  but 
he  did  not  forget  justice  must  be  tempered  with 
mercy.  Roland  was  a  proud  child ;  it  was  the 
first  whipping  he  had  ever  received,  and  young 
as  he  was,  he  felt  the  disgrace  most  keenly. 
He  loved  his  father,  but  then  his  little  heart 
was  on  fire — it  was  filled  with  anger,  and  with 
a  feeling  of  bitter,  fierce  resentment,  almost 
hatred. 

At  last  Howard  threw  down  the  whip. 
Roland  stood  sobbing  violently  in  mingled 
pain  and  anger. 

"Roland,  go  to  your  room  and  do  not  leave 
it  till  to-morrow,"  his  father  said  sternly;  "I 
will  send  you  up  some  tea." 

"I  won't  go,"  the  child  gasped  between  his 
wild  sobs. 

"Roland,  you  will  never  say  that  to  me," 
said  his  father  severely,  and  giving  him  a  sharp 
cut  across  the  wrists ;  "obey  me  instantly." 
24 


Roland  and  His  Stepmother. 

Beside  himself  with  passion  and  sobbing 
wildly,  Roland  fled  from  the  room. 

The  next  morning  after  breakfast  Howard 
turned  to  his  son  and  said  sternly:  "Roland, 
tell  mamma  you  are  sorry  for  the  way  you  acted 
yesterday,  and  promise  never  to  do  so  again." 

The  child  pouted,  but  made  no  movement  to 
obey. 

"Roland,  do  you  hear  me?" 

The  boy  threw  himself  into  his  father's  arms 
and  burst  out  crying. 

"Oh,  papa,  I  can't,"  he  sobbed. 

"You  must,"  was  the  stern  order,  but 
Roland  only  cried  more  violently. 

Howard  bit  his  lip  angrily:  "Roland,  I 
forbid  you  to  leave  the  house  till  you  obey  me, 
and  if  you  do  so  I  shall  whip  you  severely." 

He  left  the  room  just  as  Roland  threw  him- 
self down  on  the  sofa,  sobbing  violently. 

For  three  days  Roland  obstinately  refused 
to  obey,  and  then  he  gave  in.  He  went  up  to 
his  stepmother  and,  in  a  low  tone,  repeated 
what  his  father  told  him. 

Daisy  kissed  him.  "Roland,  I  love  you  very 
much,  and  I  wish  you  would  try  to  like  me  a 
little,"  she  said  gently. 

25 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Roland  never  addressed  his  stepmother  un- 
less she  spoke  to  him,  then  only  answered: 
"Yes,  ma'am,"  or  "no,  ma'am."  Daisy  really 
loved  the  little  fellow,  and  his  coldness 
wounded  her  deeply. 

One  damp,  rainy  morning,  Daisy  sat  sewing 
in  the  sitting-room  when  Roland  came  in,  put- 
ting on  his  hat  and  overcoat. 

"Where  are  you  going,  Roland  ?"  she  asked 
gently. 

"To  play  with  Eddie  Alden,"  was  the  curt 
reply. 

"It  is  raining  hard,  Roland;  it  is  not  fit  for 
you  to  go  out.  You  cannot  go,"  she  said 
firmly. 

The  child  glanced  up  at  her  with  a  haughty, 
defiant  look.  "I  want  to  go,"  he  said  coldly. 

"But  you  cannot  go,  Roland." 

"I  will  go,"  he  said  passionately,  his  lips 
white  and  compressed. 

"Roland,  you  cannot  go.     I  forbid  it." 

The  boy  ran  toward  the  door,  but  Daisy 
was  before  him;  she  locked  it  and  pur  the  key 
in  her  pocket. 


26 


Roland  and  His  , Stepmother. 

"Let  me  out,"  cried  Roland,  with  a  violent 
stamp. 

Daisy  calmly  went  on  sewing  and  took  no 
notice  of  him.  Roland  stamped  his  foot  and 
screamed  so  loud  that  she  was  almost  fright- 
ened, but  she  did  not  yield. 

"I  hate  you,"  Roland  gasped,  almost  suffo- 
cated with  rage ;  "I  will  go.  Let  me  out." 

"No,"  Daisy  answered  firmly. 

Then  Roland  threw  himself  down  and  gave 
way  to  the  wildest  anger. 

"I  shall  tell  your  father  how  you  have  been 
acting  this  morning,"  Daisy  said  sternly. 

"No,  you  won't,"  and  Roland  sprang  to  his 
feet  and  glared  at  her  like  a  perfect  little  fury. 
His  hair  was  tumbled,  his  dress  in  wild  dis- 
order, his  little  face  scarlet  with  anger  and  his 
eyes  flashing.  He  burst  into  wild  sobs  of  pas- 
sion. 

"I  will  go,"  he  cried,  between  his  sobs. 
"Open  the  door." 

Daisy  took  no  notice  of  him. 

"Let  me  out,"  Roland  repeated,  with  a  vio- 
lent stamp  of  his  little  foot. 

Just  at  that  moment  some  one  rattled  the 
27 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

door  handle.     Daisy  opened  the  door  and  Cap- 
tain Lorimer  entered. 

"Oh,  papa,  let  me  go  out,"  sobbed  Roland, 
rushing  up  to  him. 

"Roland,  what  is  the  meaning  of  this?"  his 
father  asked  sternly. 

Daisy  told  him  how  Roland  had  acted. 

"Roland,  come  here  to  me,"  was  his  father's 
stern  command. 

The  child  went  up  to  him.  Howard  sat 
down  and  drew  his  little  son  to  him. 

"Stop  crying  and  listen  to  me,"  he  said  in 
his  sternest  tone,  and  the  child's  sobs  ceased. 

"Roland,  you  must  never  act  so  again  when 
your  mamma  refuses  to  let  you  do  as  you 
wish " 

"She  is  not  my  mamma,"  Roland  inter- 
rupted angrily. 

"Roland,"  Howard  continued  sternly,  "if 
you  act  so  again  I  shall  send  you  back  to  Uncle 
Harry  to  live  till  you  learn  how  to  behave 
yourself." 

Roland  threw  his  arms  around  his  father's 
neck.  "You  won't  send  me  away  from  you, 


28 


Roland  and  His  Stepmother. 

papa,"  he  cried,  with  a  burst  of  passionate 
tears;  "I  love  you  so  much." 

"I  cannot  think  you  love  me,  Roland,  or  you 
would  not  act  so." 

"Oh,  I  do,  I  do,"  cried  the  child;  "but  I 
can't  love  Daisy.  I  can't  call  her  mamma." 

Howard  had  a  long  talk  with  his  son.  He 
firmly  impressed  on  him  that  he  must  act  dif- 
ferently or  else  he  would  have  to  live  with 
Uncle  Harry  and  Aunt  Marion.  Roland 
knew  that  his  father  would  keep  his  word,  so 
he  obeyed  his  stepmother  and  was  respectful 
to  her.  He  called  her  "mamma,"  but  Daisy 
saw  it  was  an  effort  for  him  to  do  so,  and  she 
began  to  despair  of  ever  winning  his  love. 

In  the  spring  Roland  had  a  serious  attack 
of  fever  and  at  one  time  Howard  and  Daisy 
feared  for  his  life.  Daisy  was  a  most  devoted 
nurse.  Day  and  night  she  ministered  to  every 
want.  At  last  she  had  her  reward.  One 
morning  Roland  said  to  her:  "Mamma,  I 
love  you  now."  It  was  no  passing  fancy; 
from  that  time  Roland  loved  his  stepmother, 
and  the  tie  between  them  became  a  very  strong 
one. 

29 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

ROLAND   AND   WILFRED. 

"Now  a  boy  is,  of  all  wild  beasts,  the  most  difficult  to 
manage." — Plato. 

ON  New  Year's  day,  187 — ,  a  son  was  born 
to  Daisy,  and  was  named  Wilfred.  Roland 
seemed  very  fond  of  his  baby  brother,  but 
Howard  was  fearful  that  the  old  feeling  of 
jealousy  would  return,  so  he  treated  his  first- 
born with  unusual  kindness  and  gave  him  every 
indulgence. 

"Roland,  I  hope  you  will  be  kind  to  your 
little  brother  and  love  him,"  he  said  gently. 

"I  will,  papa.     I  shall  love  him  very  much." 

Contrary  to  all  expectations  Sergeant  Ben- 
nett was  very  fond  of  his  wife  and  made  a  good 
husband.  On  the  third  of  January  a  son  was 
born  to  Nora.  From  the  very  first  grave  fears 
were  felt  for  Mrs.  Bennett,  and  she  died  when 
30 


Roland  and  Wilfred. 

/ 

her  child  was  two  weeks  old  and  the  little  one 
a  few  days  later.  Rufus  Bennett  showed  the 
greatest  grief. 

After  four  years'  service  at  the  Academy, 
Captain  Lorimer  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
major  and  ordered  to  a  post  in  one  of  the 
Southern  States.  There  were  no  schools  of 
any  consequence  near  the  fort  and  Daisy  and 
Howard  became  Roland's  teachers.  He  was 
a  bright  boy  and  learned  rapidly. 

Wilfred  was  a  sturdy  little  fellow  of  two 
summers  and  closely  resembled  his  father,  but 
a  more  headstrong,  self-willed  child  never  ex- 
isted. From  earliest  infancy  he  showed  a 
violent  temper,  and  his  mother  sometimes  found 
it  very  hard  to  make  him  obey.  As  he  grew 
older  Daisy  told  her  husband  that  Wilfred 
was  beyond  her  control;  she  could  not  make 
him  mind. 

"I  shall  take  him  in  hand,"   Howard  an- 
swered emphatically. 

There  were  a  number  of  sharp  contests  of 

will  between  father  and  son,  but  Howard  never 

yielded.     Little  Wilfred  found  that  flying  in 

a  passion,  instead  of  bringing  what  he  wanted, 

3* 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

brought  swift,  severe  punishment,  and  he  be- 
came more  obedient;  but  still  he  was  very  self- 
willed  and  often  disobeyed  his  father.  Howard 
was  obliged  to  correct  him  frequently,  but  he 
found  the  use  of  the  rod  only  roused  Wilfred's 
worst  passions,  and  he  never  resorted  to  it 
except  in  extreme  cases. 

Wilfred  seemed  not  to  have  a  particle  of 
affection  for  either  his  parents  or  brother;  in- 
deed, at  times  he  showed  a  positive  dislike  to 
them. 

Roland  was  very  fond  of  his  little  brother, 
although  at  times  Wilfred  tried  him  severely. 
Wilfred  was  a  very  selfish  child  and  wanted 
everything  his  brother  had,  and  he  seemed  to 
think  that  Roland  ought  to  do  just  as  he  said. 

On  his  tenth  birthday,  among  other  presents 
Roland  received  a  fine  dog.  No  sooner  did 
Wilfred  catch  sight  of  the  little  animal  than  he 
insisted  on  having  him.  Roland  promised 
that  he  might  play  with  Rover  all  he  liked, 
but  this  did  not  satisfy  the  selfish  little  tyrant. 
He  flew  into  one  of  his  worst  passions  and  his 
wild  screams  brought  Major  Lorimer  to  the 
room. 

32 


Roland  and  Wilfred. 

"Roland,  what  are  you  doing  to  your 
brother?"  he  asked  sternly. 

"He  insists  on  having  my  dog,"  Roland  said 
angrily. 

"I  will  have  it;  I  will  so,"  Wilfred  screamed. 

Major  Lorimer  sternly  rebuked  Wilfred  for 
his  selfishness.  The  child  dared  not  say  an- 
other word,  but  when  his  father  left  the  room 
he  shook  his  little  fist  at  his  brother  and  said 
passionately:  "I'll  drown  your  old  dog,  for 
not  giving  him  to  me;  just  see  if  I  don't." 

Roland  did  not  dream  that  Wilfred  would 
carry  out  his  threat.  A  few  days  later  a  boy 
friend  brought  Rover  to  him  in  a  half-drowned 
state. 

"I  found  Wilfred  trying  to  drown  your  dog, 
Roley,"  he  said;  "and  I  had  a  hard  time  to 
rescue  him,  for  Wilfred  fought  like  a  little 
tiger." 

"I  told  Roley  I'd  drown  his  old  dog,  for  not 
giving  him  to  me,"  said  Wilfred,  his  eyes  blaz- 
ing with  anger. 

Howard    and     Daisy    were    shocked    and 
pained  at  such  a  revengeful  nature  showing 
itself  in  their  little  son, 
33 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"Oh,  child,  child,  where  do  you  get  your 
cruelty?"  said  his  mother. 

Howard  said  nothing,  but  he  rose  and  led 
Wilfred  from  the  room. 

Roland  told  his  father  that  he  would  be 
afraid  to  ever  let  Rover  out  of  his  sight,  for 
fear  his  little  brother  would  injure  him.  • 

"I  punished  Wilfred  so  severely  that  I  am 
sure  he  will  not  dare  to  attempt  to  injure 
Rover  again,"  Major  Lorimer  answered. 

It  was  a  long  time  before  Wilfred  forgot 
that  punishment,  and  for  days  he  was  silent 
and  gloomy  and  showed  a  spirit  of  bitter,  pas- 
sionate resentment  toward  his  father.  He 
never  dared  to  touch  Rover  again. 

After  five  years  of  service  Sergeant  Bennett 
enlisted  for  another  five  years.  Wilfred 
seemed  to  take  a  great  fancy  to  him  and  he 
was  a  pet  with  the  handsome  Sergeant.  It 
was  to  him,  and  not  to  his  parents,  that  Wil- 
fred went  for  comfort  in  his  childish  sorrows 
and  disappointments. 

When  Wilfred  was  six  years  old  Daisy  be- 
gan to  teach  him.  He  seemed  to  like  study 
and  advanced  rapidly.  But  as  he  grew  older 
34 


Roland  and  Wilfred. 

he  showed  serious  faults.  He  was  selfish,  en- 
vious and  jealous;  he  seemed  to  have  a  natur- 
ally cruel,  vindictive  nature,  and  more  than 
once  his  father  was  obliged  to  punish  him  for 
acts  of  the  most  deliberate  cruelty.  On  the 
slightest  provocation  he  flew  into  violent  pas- 
sions, and  in  moments  of  excitement  or  anger 
a  wild,  lurid  light  burned  in  his  eyes,  and  his 
lips  curled  back  from  his  glittering  white  teeth. 
Howard  found  it  necesary  to  be  sterner  with 
his  second  son  than  he  had  ever  been  with  his 
first-born.  He  governed  him  with  a  firm  hand 
and  compelled  the  boy  to  respect  him.  To 
his  father's  face  Wilfred  was  respectful  and 
obedient,  but  behind  his  back  he  called  him 
an  old  tyrant  and  disobeyed  him  in  every  way 
he  dared. 

Roland  had  always  expressed  a  wish  to  go 
to  sea,  and  Howard  decided  to  send  his  eldest 
son  to  the  Naval  Academy,  if  he  could  obtain 
an  appointment  for  him.  When  Roland  was 
fourteen  years  old  he  went  to  an  excellent 
private  school  and  remained  three  years,  and 
just  after  his  seventeenth  birthday  he  entered 
the  Naval  Academy. 

35 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Daisy  and  Howard  instructed  Wilfred,  and 
when  he  was  fourteen  years  old  he  went  to 
Clifton  Hall,  a  private  schpol  conducted  on  the 
military  plan,  and  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
parts  of  Pennsylvania. 

Just  after  Wilfred  went  to  school  there  was 

a  great  sensation  at  Fort  B ,  Arizona; 

Sergeant  Bennett  deserted.  Every  effort  was 
made  to  trace  him  but  in  vain. 

While  Wilfred  was  home  for  his  second 
summer  vacation,  his  mother  died,  after  a 
short  illness.  Her  death  was  a  great  loss  to 
her  husband  and  Roland,  but  Wilfred  seemed 
to  care  very  little  about  it. 

The  autumn  after  his  wife's  death,  Howard 
Lorimer,  who  had  now  reached  the  rank  of 
colonel,  was  ordered  to  Washington,  and  in 
June  Roland  passed  a  very  creditable  examina- 
tion, and  received  his  warrant  as  a  midship- 
man of  the  United  States  Navy. 


Mabelle  Frothingham. 


CHAPTER   V. 


MABELLE   FROTHINGHAM. 

"Hither  turn 

Thy  graceful  footsteps ;  hither,  gentle  maid,  ' 
Incline  thy  polished  forehead.     Let  thy  eyes 
Effuse  the  mildness  of  their  azure  dawn, 
And  may  the  fanning  breezes  waft  aside 
Thy  radiant  locks,  disclosing,  as  it  lends 
With  airy  softness  from  the  marble  neck, 
The  cheek  fair-blooming,  and  the  rosy  lip, 
.  Where  winning  smiles,  and  pleasure  sweet  as  love, 
With  sanctity  and  wisdom,  tempting  blend 
Their  soft  allurements." — Akcnsidc. 

"There  was  a  sound  of  revelry  by  night — 

'Belgium's'  capital  had  gathered  them 
Her  beauty  and  her  chivalry :  and  bright 

The  lamps  shone  o'er  fair  women  and  brave  men. 
A  thousand  hearts  beat  happily ;  and  when 

Music  arose  with  its  voluptuous  swell, 
Soft  eyes  looked  love  to  eyes  that  spoke  again, 

And  all  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell." — Byron. 

WILFRED  LORIMER  was  the  best  scholar  at 

Clifton  Hall,  and  was  always  at  the  head  of 

his  class,  but  his  violent  temper  and  love  of 

mischief  often  brought  him  into  trouble.     His 

37 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

greatest  friend  was  Sylvan  Edmiston,  son  of 
a  wealthy  New  York  merchant,  and  they  were 
the  leaders  in  every  bit  of  mischief  that  went 
on.  Once  Colonel  Fleming,  the  principal  of 
the  Academy,  discovered  that  a  number  of  the 
scholars,  Wilfred  and  Sylvan  among  them, 
were  in  the  habit  of  playing  cards.  The  others 
were  expelled,  and  it  was  only  with  the  great- 
est difficulty  that  Mr.  Edmiston  and  Colonel 
Lorimer  saved  their  sons  from  the  same  fate. 

It  had  always  been  Colonel  Lorimer's  in- 
tention to  send  Wilfred  to  West  Point;  he  had 
influential  friends  and  his  son  was  appointed 
cadet-at-large  by  the  President. 

When  Wilfred  came  home  for  his  last  sum- 
mer vacation  he  received  a  letter  from  the  War 
Department  containing  his  appointment.  The 
letter  notified  him  that  he  had  been  appointed 
as  a  cadet  by  the  President,  and  if  he  desired 
the  appointment  he  must  report  to  the  Super- 
intendent of  the  United  States  Military  Aca- 
demy on  June  I5th,  for  examination.  If  he 
passed  the  physical  and  mental  examination 
he  would  be  admitted,  with  pay  from  the  date 
of  admission.  He  was  requested  to  imme- 
38 


Mabelle  Frothingham. 

diately  inform  the  Department  of  his  accept- 
ance of  declination  of  the  appointment. 

Colonel  Lorimer  had  to  sign  a  paper,  stat- 
ing that  he  was  willing  for  his  son  to  accept 
the  appointment,  and  that  Wilfred  had  his  full 
permission  to  serve  the  United  States  for 
eight  years,  unless  sooner  discharged. 

Appointments  are  made  a  year  in  advance, 
so  Wilfred  would  not  enter  the  Academy  until 
the  next  June. 

Roland  Lorimer  had  two  years'  duty  at  sea, 
then  he  passed  the  final  examination  and  re- 
ceived another  warrant  as  ensign  with  increased 
pay,  and  promotion  to  higher  rank  was  open 
to  him.  He  was  placed  on  duty  at  the  Wash- 
ington Navy  Yard. 

Roland  and  his  father  attended  old  St.  John's, 
the  fashionable  Episcopal  church,  on  Lafayette 
Square,  just  across  from  the  White  House. 
One  Sunday  Roland  noticed  two  ladies  in  one 
of  the  front  pews.  The  elder  lady  he  knew 
was  Mrs.  Talbot,  the  wife  of  a  Maryland  Rep- 
resentative. The  younger  one  was  a  stranger 
to  him.  She  was  apparently  about  twenty 
years  of  age,  and  the  most  beautiful  lady  he 
39 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

had  ever  seen.  She  was  plainly  but  richly 
dressed  in  a  suit  of  dark  blue  cloth,  trimmed 
with  Louis  XV.  blue  silk,  and  chinchilla  fur; 
a  handsome  coat  trimmed  with  the  same  fur, 
and  her  hat  of  dark  blue  velvet  had  a  crown 
of  gray  velvet,  the  only  trimming  being  three 
graceful  ostrich  tips,  which  were  arranged  at 
the  left  side. 

During  the  service  Roland's  eyes  constantly 
wandered  from  his  prayer-book  to  Mrs.  Tal- 
bot's  pew.  The  church  was  full  and  after  the 
service  Mrs.  Talbot  bowed  to  Colonel  Lorimer 
and  his  son,  but  Roland  had  no  chance  to  speak 
to  her. 

Just  after  New  Year's,  Mrs.  Talbot  gave  a 
concert  and  dance  for  her  niece,  Mabelle 
Frothingham,  of  Boston,  who  was  to  be  her 
guest  during  the  season.  Colonel  Lorimer 
was  a  favorite  in  Washington  society  and  he 
and  Roland  were  among  the  guests. 

The  guests  were  all  in  fancy  costume.  Ro- 
land wore  a  magnificent  brocade  and  beribboned 
costume  of  the  time  of  Louis  XIV.  The  huge 
plumes  in  his  white  felt  hat  were  superb. 

Although  Roland  knew  that  Mrs.  Talbot 
40 


Mabelle  Frothingham. 

was  noted  for  the  splendor  of  her  entertain- 
ments, he  was  not  prepared  for  the  beautiful 
scene  which  greeted  him.  Servants  dres"sed 
like  Moors,  in  gold-embroidered  suits  of  crim- 
son velvet  and  fantastic  turbans,  ushered  the 
guests  into  the  presence  of  the  hostess.  Mrs. 
Talbot  was  gowned  in  old-rose  velvet  trimmed 
with  sable,  and  wore  magnificent  diamond 
ornaments.  Beside  her  stood  Miss  Frothing- 
ham,  and  Roland  recognized  the  beautiful 
young  lady  he  had  noticed  in  church. 

Mabelle  was  tall  and  well  formed,  with  light 
complexion  and  rosy  cheeks  and  lips,  eyes  of 
the  deepest  violet,  full  of  soft,  dreamy  beauty, 
and  beautiful  golden  hair.  Her  costume  was 
of  the  time  of  Louis  XIV.  The  train  was  of 
stiff  white  brocade,  in  antique  pattern,  with  a 
pearl-embroidered  eau-de-vie  satin  tablier. 
Her  powdered  hair  was  dressed  high,  and  she 
wore  the  high-heeled  pointed  slippers  of  the 
period. 

The  walls  of  the  blue  drawing  room  were 

festooned  with  garlands  of  pink  roses,  caught 

up  with  great  bows  of  pink  satin  ribbon.     The 

pink  drawing  room  was  garlanded  with  white 

41 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

flowers,  and  everywhere  there  was  a  profusion 
of  blossoms.  The  balcony  overlooking  one 
end  of  the  beautiful  music  room  was  an  artis- 
tic bit  of  decoration.  Musical  instruments 
intertwined  with  ribbons  and  wreaths  of  flowers 
were  grouped  on  the  front  of  it.  A  cherub, 
blowing  his  little  trumpet,  held  to  the  ceiling 
the  gray  satin  draperies  which  framed  the  gal- 
lery like  a  picture.  The  whole  beautiful  scene 
was  reflected  in  mirrors  placed  behind  the 
orchestra.  The  programmes  were  written  in 
old  French. 

On  a  dais  at  one  end  of  the  room  were  an 
orchestra  of  twenty  members,  and  a  quartette 
from  a  celebrated  opera  company  which  was 
then  performing  in  the  city.  The  guests  were 
seated  in  gilt  and  brocaded  chairs.  Mabelle 
was  seated  between  two  gentlemen,  Roland 
and  an  Austrian  nobleman,  Prince  von  Rado- 
witz,  who  was  travelling  in  the  United  States. 
He  was  a  stout,  middle-aged  man  with  a  florid 
complexion,  and  almost  ugly  looking.  Roland 
did  not  relish  the  admiring  glances  he  cast  at 
the  beautiful  American. 

When  the  exquisite  music  ceased  the  lights 
42 


Mabelle  Frothingham. 

were  flashed  on,  and  a  fanfare  of  trumpets 
announced  supper.  As  the  most  distinguished 
gentleman  present,  Prince  von  Radowitz  took 
in  Mrs.  Talbot  and,  to  his  delight,  Roland  had 
Mabelle. 

After  supper,  antique  dances  were  performed. 
The  saraband  et  pavane,  executed  by  Mabelle 
and  three  graceful  and  beautiful  women, 
leaders  in  Washington  society,  was  exquisitely 
done. 

Their  dresses  were  all  alike  in  the  trains, 
which  were  of  stiff  white  brocade,  in  antique 
patterns,  but  the  pearl-embroidered  satin  tab- 
liers  differed  in  delicate  tints,  being  respectively 
straw  color,  eau  de  vie,  rose  and  silver-grey. 

The  cotillon  was  led  by  Prince  von  Rado- 
witz and  Mabelle.  The  favors  consisted  of 
beautiful  antique  fans,  workbags,  little,  heart- 
shaped  pin-cushions,  ring  boxes  and  flowers 
for  the  ladies,  while  the  gentlemen  had  silver 
picture  frames,  silver  pencils  and  cigarette  cut- 
ters, notebooks  and  card-cases. 

Mabelle  Frothingham  was  the  belle  of  Wash- 
ington and  invitations  were  showered  on  her. 
She  had  no  end  of  beaux,  but  her  principal  ad- 
43 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

mirers  were  Prince  von  Radowitz  and  Ensign 
Lorimer.  Roland  felt  that  Mabelle  favored 
him,  but  he  knew  the  Austrian  was  a  determined 
rival,  and  he  was  uneasy  and  jealous.  The 
Prince  was  violently  jealous  and  often  Roland 
caught  angry  glances  directed  at  him.  Bets 
were  made  among  the  "swell"  set  as  to  which 
suitor  would  win  the  beautiful  Miss  Froth- 
ingham. 

Colonel  Lorimer  uneasily  watched  Roland's 
attentions  to  Mabelle. 

"Roland,"  he  asked,  abruptly,  one  evening, 
"have  you  any  idea  of  marrying  Miss  Froth- 
ingham?" 

Roland  started  and  colored.  "I  love  her, 
father.  She  is  dearer  than  life  to  me,  and  I 
shall  leave  no  stone  unturned  to  win  her  for 
my  wife." 

Colonel  Lorimer  sighed  deeply.  "Miss 
Frothingham  is  the  sole  heir  of  a  very  rich 
merchant,  Roland,  and  how  can  you  keep  her 
in  the  style  she  has  always  been  used  to? 
Mabelle  may  love  you,  my  son,  but  I  am 
afraid  that  Mr.  Frothingham  will  not  be  will- 
ing to  give  his  daughter  to  a  poor  naval  officer. 
44 


Mabelle  Frothingham. 

It  is  true  that  you  have  twelve  thousand  dollars 
a  year  besides  your  pay,  but  what  is  that  in 
comparison  to  the  wealth  of  Mr.  Frothing- 
ham?" 

"Why  do  you  talk  so,  father  ?"  asked  Roland, 
angrily;  "why  do  you  try  to  throw  cold  water 
on  my  hopes  ?" 

"I  hope  you  will  win  Mabelle,  my  son,  but  I 
am  afraid  you  will  meet  with  violent  oppo- 
sition from  her  parents." 


45 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE    BETROTHAL. 

"Go  bid  the  needle  its  dear  north  forsake, 
To  which  with  trembling  reverence  it  does  bend; 

Go  bid  the  stones  a  journty  upward  make: 
Go  bid  the  ambitious  flame  no  more  ascend ; 

And  when  these  false  to  their  old  motions  prove, 

Then  will  I  cease  thee,  thee  alone  to  love." 

— Cowley. 

THE  next  evening,  Mrs.  Talbot  gave  a  small 
theatre  party,  and,  to  his  disgust,  Roland  found 
the  Austrian  was  one  of  the  guests. 

Mabelle  looked  very  pretty  in  a  gown  of 
sea-green  ottoman  trimmed  with  panels  of  a 
darker  shade  of  velvet,  and  a  velvet  bodice 
with  sleeves  of  pompadour-green  taffeta,  with 
handsome  wrap  of  green  velvet  richly  embroid- 
ered and  lined  with  white  satin.  The  green 
velvet  capote  had  a  white  satin  crown,  and 
was  ornamented  with  fans  of  white  lace,  a 
white  aigrette  and  choux  of  green  velvet. 
46 


The  Betrothal. 

The  Austrian  sat  beside  Mabelle  in  the  pri- 
vate box.  While  the  curtain  was  down  he 
absorbed  her  whole  attention,  and  Roland 
could  not  succeed  in  exchanging  a  word  with 
her. 

After  the  play  the  party  returned  to  Mrs. 
Talbot's  magnificent  residence  on  Connecticut 
Avenue,  where  an  elaborate  supper  was  served. 
An  army  officer  took  Mabelle  in  to  the  supper- 
room,  and  Roland  took  in  Miss  Laura  Alden, 
a  very  pretty  young  lady  and  a  great  friend  of 
Mabelle. 

Roland  was  only  able  to  speak  a  few  words 
to  Mabelle  and  he  went  home  feeling  utterly 
wretched. 

About  five  o'clock  the  next  day  he  called  on 
Mabelle.  She  received  him  in  the  reception 
room  between  the  drawing  room  and  the  dining 
room.  The  ceiling  was  covered  with  silver 
leaf ;  the  walls  were  hung  in  dark  green  plush, 
surmounted  by  a  frieze  of  silver  and  gold 
figures  in  relief.  The  room  was  handsomely 
furnished,  and  an  electric  light  was  arranged  in 
such  a  way  that  the  deep,  rich  colors  showed  at 
night. 

47 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Mabelle  was  seated  in  a  large  easy-chair  and 
on  a  small  table  beside  her  was  a  dainty  tea- 
set.  She  wore  a  Louis  XIV.  teagown  of 
pale  green  brocade  and  rose  pink,  and  a  Marie 
Antoinette  fichu  of  pink  chiffon  was  gracefully 
draped  round  her  shoulders  and  carelessly 
knotted  in  the  centre  of  the  front. 

Roland  looked  around  the  richly  furnished 
room  and  at  Mabelle's  expensive  dress.  "How 
was  he  to  keep  her  in  such  style?  What  was 
his  income  beside  this  wealth  ?" 

Mabelle  greeted  him  with  a  bright  smile,  and 
offered  him  a  cup  of  tea  and  some  dainty  lemon 
wafers. 

"I  am  going  away  to-morrow,  Mr.  Lorimer," 
she  said  in  a  low  tone ;  "I  received  a  letter  from 
my  mother,  saying  she  is  not  very  well  and 
telling  me  to  come  without  fail." 

She  was  going  away!  Roland  lost  all  con- 
trol over  himself  at  those  words.  He  seized  her 
hand  and,  in  burning,  passionate  words,  he 
poured  forth  his  love.  Mabelle  blushed  and 
cast  down  her  eyes,  but  she  did  not  withdraw 
her  hand. 


The  Betrothal. 

"Tell  me  that  you  love  me,  Mabelle.  Give 
me  some  hope,"  he  pleaded. 

"I  love  you,  Roland,"  she  said  gently. 

"And  you  will  be  my  wife,  darling?" 

"Yes,  Roland." 

He  clasped  her  in  his  arms  and  their  lips 
united  in  love's  first,  passionate  kiss. 

"But  will  your  father  consent  to  our  mar- 
riage, Mabelle?  I  have  twelve  thousand  dol- 
lars a  year  besides  my  pay,  but  what  is  that  in 
comparison  to  his  income  ?  I  can  give  you  every 
comfort  of  life,  but  I  cannot  keep  you  in  such 
style  as  this." 

"Father  loves  me  and  I  know  he  will  consent 
to  our  marriage.  And  as  for  money — oh, 
Roland,  what  do  I  care  for  wealth  when  I 
have  your  love!" 

"Bless  you,  Mabelle,  for  those  words,"  he 
said  in  a  tone  of  the  deepest  tenderness. 

Roland  seemed  to  tread  on  air  as  he  hurried 
to  his  father's  quarters. 

"Congratulate  me,  father,"  he  cried  joy- 
ously; "Mabelle  has  promised  to  be  my  wife." 

"Have  you  Mr.  Frothingham's  consent?" 


49 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"No;  but  Mabelle  says  her  father  will  cer- 
tainly consent." 

"Do  not  be  deceived,  Roland.  You  will 
never  gain  Mr.  Frothingham's  consent  to  your 
marriage  with  his  daughter,"  was  Colonel 
Lorimer's  emphatic  answer. 

That  evening  Roland  wrote  to  the  merchant, 
asking  for  his  daughter. 


50 


Farewell,  Love. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FAREWELL,    LOVE;    MY    DREAM    OF    HAPPINESS 
IS   OVER. 

"Then  blank  despair, 

The  shadow  of  a  starless  night  was  thrown 
Over  the  world  in  which  I  moved  alone." 

— Shelley. 

"Of  joys  departed,  never  to  return, 
How  bitter  the  remembrance." 

— Blair. 

IN  a  fever  of  impatience  Roland  waited  for 
an  answer  from  Mr.  Frothingham.  Two  days 
passed  and  then  on  going  to  his  quarters  in  the 
evening  he  found  a  letter.  He  hastily  tore  it 
open.  It  ran  thus: 

"BOSTON,  March  3Oth,  188 — . 
"ENSIGN  ROLAND  LORIMER: 

"DEAR  SIR:     Whilst  fully  sensible  of  the 
honor  you  have  done  Mabelle  in  offering  her 
51 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

your  hand,  I  must  not  shrink  from  telling  you 
that  I  do  not  consider  your  income  and  pros- 
pects sufficiently  good  to  induce  me  to  listen 
to  your  proposal — an  opinion  in  which  my 
daughter  fully  coincides.  Trusting  that  you 
will  acquiesce  in  the  wisdom  of  our  decision, 
I  remain, 

"Yours  very  truly, 

"EUGENE  FROTHINGHAM." 

Roland  stood  staring  at  the  words,  "an 
opinion  in  which  my  daughter  fully  coincides." 
Mabelle  had  told  him:  "And  as  for  money, 
oh,  Roland,  what  do  I  care  for  wealth  when  I 
have  your  love."  He  could  not  grasp  the 
meaning  of  the  letter  at  first;  he  felt  stunned, 
stupefied.  Then  its  terrible  reality  burst  upon 
him.  Mabelle  had  promised  to  be  his  wife. 
Now  she  coldly  threw  him  over. 

"It  is  more  than  I  can  bear.  Mabelle!  Ma- 
belle !"  Then  he  threw  up  his  arms.  "O  God ! 
let  me  die.  O,  take  me  to  you !"  With  a  pas- 
sionate, despairing  cry,  Roland  Lorimer  fell 
to  the  floor,  where  he  lay  white  as  a  block  of 
marble. 

52 


Farewell,  Love. 

Colonel  Lorimer  dropped  in  to  see  his  son. 
The  first  thing  Roland  knew  was  that  his 
father  was  bending  over  him.  He  roused  him- 
self and  as  he  did  so  his  eyes  fell  on  the  letter, 
lying  on  the  floor  where  he  had  dropped  it.  A 
convulsive  shudder  swept  over  him  and  a  deep 
groan  burst  from  his  lips. 

"Read  that  letter,  father,"  he  said,  hoarsely. 
Colonel  Lorimer  did  so. 

"I  tried  to  warn  you,  Roland,  that  Mr. 
Frothingham  would  never  consent  to  your 
marriage." 

"But,  Mabelle — oh,  father,  to  think  that  she 
could  promise  to  be  my  wife,  to  say  she  cared 
nothing  for  money  if  she  had  my  love,  and 
then — then — to  coldly  throw  me  over " 

Suddenly  Roland  started  up.  "Father,  I 
understand  it  now ;  the  Austrian  nobleman  has 
proposed  to  her  and  she  has  sold  herself  for  a 
title." 

A  few  days  later  Roland  Lorimer  read  the 
following  in  the  social  news  of  his  daily  paper : 

"The  engagement  is  announced  of  Mabelle 
Frothingham,  of  Boston,  to  Prince  von  Rado- 
witz.     The  marriage  will  take  place  early  in 
53 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

June."  Then  followed  a  biographical  sketch 
of  both  parties. 

A  bitter,  mocking  smile  curled  the  Ensign's 
lip.  He  threw  the  paper  into  the  fire,  mur- 
muring hoarsely  as  he  did  so : 

"Farewell,  love;  my  dream  of  happiness  is 
over." 


54 


The  Father's  Story. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
THE  FATHER'S  STORY. 

THAT  spring  was  cold  and  backward,  and 
one  evening,  a  few  days  after  Roland  learned 
of  Mabelle's  betrothal,  he  dropped  into  his 
father's  quarters.  Colonel  Lorimer  was  in  bed 
and  complained  of  feeling  very  ill. 

"I  am  afraid  I  got  chilled  somehow,"  he 
said. 

Roland  immediately  summoned  a  physician, 
who  pronounced  it  a  bad  case  of  pleurisy.  The 
doctor  gave  little  hope  of  the  Colonel's  recovery 
and  the  Commandant  of  the  navy  yard  gave 
Roland  leave  of  absence.  The  son's  first  care 
was  to  secure  a  trained  nurse. 

One  morning  father  and  son  were  alone. 

"Roland,  I  am  going  to  die,"  began  Colonel 
Lorimer. 

"Oh,  father,  I  hope  not,"  his  son  answered, 
his  voice  trembling  with  emotion. 

55 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"I  feel  that  I  am  going  to  die,  my  son,"  his 
father  repeated ;  "and  I  had  better  tell  you  the 
story  of  my  life  while  I  am  able  to  do  so." 

He  paused  for  a  few  moments,  then  con- 
tinued : 

"My  father  was  Basil  d'Arto,  the  sixtli  Duke 
of  Laughton.  He  married  early  in  life  Lady 
Aurelia  Lorimer,  the  daughter  of  an  English 
earl.  He  had  two  sons,  my  brother  Wilfred, 
who  took  by  courtesy  my  father's  second  title 
of  Marquis  of  Alresford,  and  my  full  name  is 
Reginald  Howard  Lorimer.  As  the  second 
son  of  a  duke  I  was  Lord  Reginald. 

"There  was  only  a  year's  difference  in  age 
between  myself  and  my  brother,  and  our  mother 
died  when  I  was  a  mere  infant.  As  the  eldest 
son  Alresford  was  very  much  petted  and  in- 
dulged. My  father  compelled  me  to  yield  to 
my  brother  in  every  way,  and  my  life  was  any- 
thing but  a  happy  one. 

"We  were  educated  by  a  private  tutor  and 
then  went  to  Eton  and  Oxford.  Although  a 
ducal  family,  our  ancestors  had  been  reckless 
spendthrifts,  and  my  father's  income  was  not 
very  large,  but  he  kept  a  racing  stable  and 
56 


The  Father's  Story. 

somehow  contrived  to  live  like  a  king.  He 
impressed  on  us  boys  that  he  was  nearly  bank- 
rupt, and  we  must  manage  to  find  rich  wives; 
there  were  plenty  of  rich  commoners  who  would 
gladly  give  their  daughters  large  dowries  in 
exchange  for  our  grand  old  Norman  name. 

"After  graduating  from  Oxford,  I  entered 
the  army,  becoming  a  lieutenant  in  the  First 
Life  Guards.  From  my  father  I  inherited  a 
taste  for  gambling,  and,  unfortunately,  I 
found  every  means  to  gratify  it.  I  led  a  gay, 
dashing  life,  betting  freely  on  the  turf  and  other 
sporting  events,  and  losing  heavily  at  play. 
In  order  to  pay  my  debts  of  honor  I  borrowed 
of  money-lenders  at  ruinous  rates  of  interest. 

"At  last  I  became  so  deeply  involved  in  debt 
that  there  was  nothing  I  could  do  but  go  to 
my  father.  He  paid  all  I  owed,  but  swore  he 
would  never  give  me  another  sixpence  for 
gambling  debts.  I  taunted  him  with  being  a 
gambler  himself.  There  was  a  stormy  scene 
between  us,  and  we  parted  in  anger. 

"But,  alas !  my  passion  for  gambling  was  too 
strong  for  me.  One  evening,  just  after  my 
twenty-fifth  birthday,  I  went  out  with  a  great 
57 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

friend  of  mine,  Lord  Algernon  Harcourt.  He 
took  me  to  a  large,  elegant  mansion  in  the 
West  End.  I  was  introduced  to  the  master 
of  the  house,  Gaspard  du  Vair,  a  Frenchman, 
and  several  other  gentlemen,  all  foreigners. 
An  elaborate  repast  was  served  and  then  Mon- 
sieur du  Vair  proposed  cards. 

"I  won  again  and  again.  Rich  wines  were 
freely  served  and,  excited  by  the  liquor  and 
elated  by  success,  I  doubled  my  stakes.  Sud- 
denly I  began  to  lose  and  before  I  knew  it  I 
had  lost  five  thousand  pounds.  I  hesitated, 
then  the  scoundrel  Du  Vair  urged  me  to  regain 
my  losses.  I  staked  fifteen  thousand  pounds 
and  lost.  I  sprang  to  my  feet  and  was  about 
to  rush  from  the  room  when  Du  Vair  caught 
my  arm  and  said  coldly : 

"  'Your  note  for  the  amount  before  you 
leave,  Lord  Reginald!' 

"My  eyes  were  opened  and  I  knew  I  had 
been  swindled  by  card  sharpers.  I  wrote  and 
signed  an  I.  O.  U.,  and  then  I  turned  to  Lord 
Algernon.  I  blamed  him  for  my  losses,  de- 
claring he  had  no  business  to  bring  me  to  such 
a  place.  We  were  both  excited  with  wine, 
58 


The  Father's  Story. 

violent  words  passed  between  us  and  at  last 
I  knocked  him  down  and  then  rushed  from  the 
place. 

"Several  days  later  I  received  a  challenge 
from  Lord  Algernon.  We  crossed  the  Chan- 
nel and  fought  a  duel  with  pistols.  Neither 
was  injured  at  the  first  fire  and  Lord  Algernon 
insisted  on  our  firing  again.  He  fell  at  the 
second  fire,  but  his  wound  was  not  serious  and 
soon  healed. 

"The  gambler  Du  Vair  began  to  press  me  for 
the  payment  of  the  note,  but  where  was  I  to 
get  the  money?  Twenty  thousand  pounds! 
I  dared  not  go  to  my  father  for  such  a  sum." 

Colonel  Lorimer  paused ;  he  was  greatly  agi- 
tated and  panted  for  breath.  Roland  gave  him 
some  medicine. 

"You  must  not  tell  me  any  more,  father;  it 
is  too  much  for  you." 

"You  must  know  the  worst,  my  son.  At 
last  I  saw  I  would  have  to  appeal  to  my  father. 
He  and  my  brother  always  came  to  London 
during  the  season.  One  morning,  as  soon  as 
my  military  duties  were  over,  I  went  to  the 
house.  The  footman  who  answered  the  door 
59 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

informed  me  that  my  father  was  in  the  library. 
Father  and  Alresford  were  in  the  room. 

"  'You  scoundrel !  I  wonder  you  had  the 
impudence  to  show  your  face  here  again!' 
cried  my  father,  his  face  purple  with  anger. 

"  'Father,  what  have  I  done?' 

"  'What !  you  dare  to  ask  ?  You  have  been 
gambling  again,  and  to  pay  your  debts  of  honor, 
you  have  forged  my  name  to  a  check  for  twenty 
thousand  pounds.' 

"I  stood  spellbound,  unable  to  say  a  word. 

"  'Dare  you  deny  it,  sir  ?'  thundered  my 
father. 

"  'Oh,  father,  you  cannot  think  that  I  would 
do  such  a  thing,'  I  answered. 

'  'Dare  you  deny  that  you  have  been  gam- 
bling again  ?' 

"I  colored,  hesitated,  and  then  confessed  I 
had  lost  that  sum.  "But,  oh,  father,  father,  I 
have  not  forged  your  name.  You  cannot  be- 
lieve me  guilty;'  and  I  seized  his  hand,  but  he 
snatched  it  away. 

"  'You  confess  you  lost  twenty  thousand 
pounds  to  a  card-sharper  and  gave  your  note 
for  the  amount?' 

60 


The  Father's  Story. 

"  'Yes,'  I  stammered. 

"  'A  clerk  from  my  bankers  has  just  been 
here/  continued  my  father,  scarcely  able  to 
speak  from  anger.  'This  morning  a  notorious 
card-sharper  presented  a  check  for  twenty  thou- 
sand pounds ;  it  was  made  payable  to  you,  duly 
signed  with  my  name  and  endorsed  by  Lord 
Reginald  H.  L.  d'Arto/ 

"  'It  was  a  forgery,  father/  I  said,  passion- 
ately. 

"  'The  clerk  knew  the  signature  of  my  name 
was  not  genuine/  continued  my  father,  coldly, 
'and  demanded  to  know  who  gave  him  the 
check.  The  sharper  confessed  that  it  was  given 
to  him  in  payment  for  a  gambling  debt,  but  de- 
clined to  give  the  gentleman's  name  unless  his 
grace  declared  the  check  a  forgery.  The  clerk 
informed  the  directors  of  the  bank,  and  they 
sent  to  me  to  know  if  the  check  was  a  forgery. 
I  knew  at  once  that  you  had  committed  forgery, 
but,  to  save  our  name  from  disgrace,  I  declared 
the  check  genuine  and  ordered  it  paid/ 

'  'But,  your  grace/    said  the  clerk,  'the  sig- 
nature is  certainly  not  yours.' 

'  'I  gave  that  check  to  my  son  last  night/ 
6\ 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

I  answered  angrily,  and  the  clerk  bowed  and 
left  the  room!' 

"Here  my  father  sprang  to  his  feet  and  seiz- 
ing my  arm,  he  shook  me  with  all  his  force. 
"  'You  scoundrel,  you  villain !  paying  that 
forged  check  has  ruined  me !' 

"I  tried  in  vain  to  prove  my  innocence,  de- 
claring the  sharper  and  not  I  was  the  forger. 
But  I  had  to  acknowledge  that  I  had  lost  twenty 
thousand  pounds  to  a  card  sharper,  and  it  went 
against  me.  I  pleaded  with  my  father  and 
brother,  but  both  believed  me  guilty  and  would 
not  listen.  My  father  disowned  me,  swearing 
that,  living  or  dead,  he  would  never  see  me 
again,  and,  with  a  curse  on  his  lips,  he  fell  in 
a  fit. 

"Alresford  grasped  my  arm,  and,  pointing 
to  my  father,  he  said  furiously :  'You  have 
killed  your  father !  Leave  this  house  and  never 
dare  to  darken  its  door  again !' ' 

Colonel  Lorimer  gasped  for  breath,  great 
drops  of  sweat  stood  on  his  forehead,  and  it 
was  some  little  time  before  he  could  speak 
again. 

"I  fled  from  the  house,  and  like  one  in  a 
62 


The  Father's  Story. 

dream  I  wandered  through  the  streets  of  Lon- 
don until  I  fell  prostrate  from  exhaustion  in 
front  of  a  home  on  Brook  Street.  It  happened 
to  be  the  mansion  of  Sir  Charles  Carleton,  a 
fashionable  physician.  He  drove  up  in  his  car- 
riage in  a  few  moments  and  instantly  recog- 
nized me. 

"  'Lord  Reginald  d'Arto !'  he  exclaimed  in 
amazement. 

"  'I  am  ill  and  fell  from  exhaustion,'  I  an- 
swered, trying  to  rise. 

"I  was  taken  into  his  house  and,  after  rest- 
ing a  while,  he  sent  me  to  my  quarters  in  his 
carriage. 

"I  had  a  violent  attack  of  brain-fever,  and  I 
should  have  died  but  for  the  careful  nursing  of 
my  valet.  When  I  became  convalescent  and  re- 
turned to  duty  I  found  that  my  father  was  dead, 
and  that  Alresford  was  the  seventh  Duke  of 
Laughton.  The  story  that  I  had  forged  my 
father's  name  and  that  the  shock  had  killed 
him  somehow  became  known.  I  met  the  cold 
and  averted  looks  of  my  brother  officers ;  they 
declared  I  had  disgraced  the  regiment,  and  de- 


63 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

manded  that  I  should  resign  my  commission, 
and  I  did. 

"I  always  believed  that  Gaspard  du  Vair  had 
forged  the  check.  I  went  to  Messrs.  Armitage 
&  Elmore,  my  father's  bankers,  and  told  them 
my  suspicion.  They  did  their  best  for  me,  but 
they  could  not  prove  anything  against  him. 
The  fact  that  my  father  and  brother  believed 
me  guilty  went  against  me  greatly.  Society 
shunned  me,  and  I  decided  to  leave  the  coun- 
try. 

"My  father  died  leaving  debts  in  every  di- 
rection, and  there  was  nothing  left  but  the  en- 
tailed estates  that  went  to  the  eldest  son.  My 
funds  were  completely  exhausted,  and  I  wrote 
to  Laughton,  asking  him  to  let  me  have  a  few 
pounds,  but  my  letter  was  returned  unopened. 
I  sold  my  watch  and  some  other  things,  and  on 
the  1 7th  day  of  May,  1861,  I  sailed  for  Amer- 
ica. I  went  by  the  name  of  Howard  Lorimer. 

"As  long  as  he  lived,  my  valet  corresponded 
with  me,  and  from  him  I  learned  that  about  a 
year  after  I  left  England,  my  brother  married 
Victoria  Trevelyan,  the  daughter  of  an  im- 
mensely rich  London  banker,  and  had  four  chil- 
64 


The  Father's  Story. 

dren,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  the  latter 
dying  very  young.  Arthur,  the  eldest,  and  by 
courtesy  the  Marquis  of  Alresford,  is  twenty- 
five  years  of  age.  Lord  Lionel  is  twenty-three, 
and  a  naval  lieutenant." 

"Shall  I  tell  Wilfred  this  story,  father?" 
asked  Roland. 

"You  can  do  as  you  think  best,"  the  Colonel 
answered. 

Roland  decided  it  would  be  best  for  him  not 
to  tell  his  brother. 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


DEATH  OF  COLONEL  LORIMER. 

"Into  the  silent  land ! 
Ah!  who  shall  lead  us  thither? 
Clouds  in  the  evening  sky  more  darkly  gather, 
And  shattered  wrecks  lie  thicker  on  the  strand. 

Who  leads  us  with  a  gentle  hand 

Thither,  O  thither, 

Into  the  Silent  Land? 

"Oh  land,  oh  land, 
For  all  the  broken  hearted, 
The  mildest  herald  by  our  fate  allotted 
Beckons,  and  with  inverted  torch  doth  stand 
To  lead  us  with  a  gentle  hand 
To  the  land  of  the  great  Departed — 

Into  the  Silent  Land !" 

— Longfellow,  from  the  German. 

THE  next  day  Colonel  Lorimer  was  a  great 
deal  worse.  The  physician  told  Roland  that  he 
did  not  think  his  father  could  live  the  week 
out.  Roland  immediately  telegraphed  to 
Colonel  Fleming,  and  Wilfred  arrived  home 
the  next  day. 

66 


Death  of  Colonel  Lorimer. 

Colonel  Lorimer  died  about  a  week  later  and 
was  buried  with  military  honors. 

After  the  service  the  will  was  read.  As  Ro- 
land inherited  two  hundred  thousand  dollars 
from  his  mother,  all  the  Colonel  had  was  to  go 
to  Wilfred.  Donald  Fairlie,  a  well-known 
Washington  lawyer  and  a  great  friend  of 
Colonel  Lorimer,  was  executor  and  Wilfred's 
guardian.  After  the  funeral  the  brothers  went 
to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Fairlie.  It  was  a  cold, 
rainy  day  and  Roland  stood  by  the  parlor  win- 
dow watching  the  storm. 

"If  that  old  Scotchman  tries  to  lord  it  over 
me,  Roley,  I  can  tell  you  he'll  get  the  worst  of 
it,"  said  Wilfred  angrily.  He  paused  a  mo- 
ment, then  continued :  "I  have  a  great  mind 
not  to  go  to  West  Point ;  I  don't  relish  the  idea 
of  four  years  of  iron  discipline." 

"It  was  father's  wish  that  you  should  enter 
the  army,"  said  Roland,  "and  you  always  said 
that  you  wanted  to  be  a  soldier." 

"Yes,  I  do  want  to.  It  has  always  been  the 
wish  of  my  heart  to  be  an  army  officer,  but  if 
it  wasn't  for  that  I  should  not  go  to  the  Acad- 
emy." 

67 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"I  hope  you  will  be  careful  while  you  are 
there,  Wilfred ;  I  am  afraid  your  violent  temper 
will  bring  you  into  trouble." 

"I  am  proud  and  ambitious,"  Wilfred  an- 
swered haughtily,  "and  I  shall  take  good  care 
that  I  am  not  caught  in  any  serious  scrape.  I 
mean  to  graduate  number  one." 

Wilfred  paused  for  a  moment,  then  asked 
abruptly : 

"Roley,  where  did  father  come  from?" 

"Our  father  was  an  Englishman,  but  his  life 
was  not  happy  and  he  left  his  home.  He  never 
corresponded  with  any  of  his  family." 

"Were  the  family  rich  and  of  good  blood?" 

"Father  came  of  a  very  good  family,  but  they 
were  not  rich." 

In  June  Wilfred  graduated  from  Clifton 
Hall,  number  one,  and  about  a  week  later  he 
went  to  West  Point 


Cadet  Lorimer. 


CHAPTER  X. 

CADET     LORIMER. 

"The  moon  looks  down  on  old  Cro'  nest, 
She  mellows  the  shades  on  his  shaggy  breast, 
And  seems  his  huge,  gray  form  to  throw, 
In  a  silver  cone  on  the  way  below ; 
His  sides  are  broken  by  spots  of  shade, 
By  the  walnut  bough  and  the  cedar  made, 
And  through  their  clustering  branches  dark, 
Glimmers  and  dies  the  fire-fly's  spark — 
Like  starry  twinkles   that  momently  break 
Through  the  rifts  of  the  gathering  tempest's  rack." 

— The  Culprit  Fay. 

WILFRED  went  by  rail  from  Washington  to 
New  York.  At  the  depot  he  was  met  by  Syl- 
van Edmiston  and  taken  to  the  elegant  man- 
sion on  Madison  Avenue.  Wilfred  was 
Sylvan's  guest  over  night,  and  the  next  morn- 
ing, in  a  fine  carriage,  he  was  driven  to  the 
West  Twenty-second  Street  pier,  where  he 
took  the  nine  o'clock  Albany  boat. 

As  soon  as  the  boat  landed  at  West  Point, 

69 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Wilfred  climbed  into  the  yellow  omnibus  and 
was  driven  to  the  West  Point  hotel. 

The  stage  toiled  up  the  long  ascent.  The 
first  building  that  met  Wilfred's  view  was  the 
riding  school  used  in  winter,  to  the  rear  of  this 
the  public  stables,  accommodating  one  hundred 
and  fifty  horses.  Then,  as  the  stage  ascended, 
the  pathway  brought  to  view  a  new  fire-proof 
building,  for  offices.  A  beautiful  feature  to  the 
right  of  this  building  is  the  library,  with  its 
triple  towers;  next  to  the  library  is  the  chapel, 
and  the  next  building  is  the  old  riding  hall, 
now  used  for  recitation  rooms,  gymnasiums, 
gallery  of  paintings,  and  museums.  On  the 
same  street  are  located  the  cadet  barracks,  and 
to  the  north  the  officers'  quarters.  Prominent 
in  this  vicinity  is  a  fine  monument  to  General 
Sedgwick.  To  the  south  of  the  old  riding  hall 
are  the  cadet  mess  hall,  or  Grant  Hall,  as  it  is 
called  now,  and  the  cadet  hospital  and,  still 
further  south,  another  section  of  officers'  quar- 
ters. Near  the  flagstaff  is  a  fine  collection  of 
old  cannon,  old  chains,  old  shells,  and  the  fa- 
mous "swamp  angel"  gun,  used  at  Charleston 
in  1864. 

70 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

The  West  Point  Hotel,  the  only  hotel  on 
the  post,  commands  the  finest  view  in  the  Hud- 
son Valley.  After  dinner  Wilfred  went  out 
and  viewed  the  magnificent  scenery  from  the 
piazzas.  To  the  north,  about  nine  miles  dis- 
tant, was  Newburg,  and  in  the  extreme  distance 
the  Shawangunk  Mountains  and  the  dim  out- 
lines of  the  Catskills.  To  the  left  of  New- 
burg  are  the  Storm  King  Mountain  or  Butter 
Hill  and  "Old  Crow  Nest,"  fifteen  hundred 
feet  above  the  Hudson,  with  its  overhanging 
cliffs  and  precipices.  To  the  right,  opposite 
Storm  King,  are  Break  Neck  Mountain,  Bull 
Hill,  the  villages  of  Cold  Spring  and  Philips- 
town,  and  directly  across  the  river  is  Constitu- 
tion Island,  reached  by  a  ferry  boat,  and  on 
this  island  is  the  home  of  the  author  of  "The 
Wide,  Wide  World." 

From  the  west  piazza  can  be  seen  the  Siege 
Battery,  the  Ordnance  and  Artillery  Labora- 
tory, the  barracks  of  the  soldiers  in  Camptown, 
and,  farther  away,  to  the  right,  Washington's 
Valley,  overlooked  by  the  cadet  cemetery,  on 
the  crest  of  the  hill  above.  Directly  in  front  of 
the  piazza  is  Redoubt  Hill,  rising  to  an  alti- 
71 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

tude  of  six  hundred  feet  above  the  plain,  and  to 
the  left  the  grim  walls  of  Fort  Putnam  over- 
look the  officers'  quarters  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Plain. 

From  the  front  of  the  hotel  can  be  seen  old 
Fort  Clinton  (where  all  the  battles  of  the  cadets 
are  fought),  the  library  and  observatory,  with 
its  turrets  and  dome,  further  south  the  chapel, 
the  academy  and  the  cadet  barracks,  above 
which,  in  a  forest  of  cedars,  are  the  ruins  of 
Fort  Wyllis. 

Wilfred  was  deeply  moved,  and  he  stood  for 
i  long,  long  time  gazing  at  the  btautiful  scenery 
of  his  birthplace. 

Among  the  candidates  at  the  hotel  were  two 
youths,  Alfred  Lyman,  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
Frank  Lenox,  of  Illinois.  Alfred  was  a  homely 
youth  of  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  neatly 
dressed,  but  his  apparel  showed  he  was  not 
wealthy.  He  was  the  son  of  a  poor  country 
clergyman.  Frank  Lenox  was  a  dark,  hand- 
some youth  about  the  same  age.  He  was  the 
son  of  Commander  Archibald  Lenox,  U.  S.  N. 

On  the  1 5th  of  June,  Wilfred  and  many 
others  reported  to  the  adjutant  of  the  Academy 
72 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

and  deposited  one  hundred  dollars  with  the 
treasurer.  They  were  directed  to  report  them- 
selves to  Cadet  Lieutenant  Rush  in  the  bar- 
racks, and  they  were  turned  over  to  Cadet  Cor- 
poral Warren  and  taken  to  the  hospital  for  the 
physical  examination.  Of  the  large  number 
examined,  very  few  were  rejected. 

The  next  day  the  candidates  underwent  the 
examination  in  arithmetic :  Wilfred  solved  the 
problems  easily.  In  a  short  time  he  rose,  and 
with  a  careless,  confident  air,  he  handed  his  pa- 
per to  the  officer  and  left  the  room. 

The  next  day  all  suspense  was  over.  A  cadet 
corporal  read  in  alphabetical  order  the  list  of 
successful  candidates.  Among  them  were  Lori- 
mer, Lenox  and  Lyman.  The  "plebes,"  as  the 
new  cadets  are  called,  were  then  taken  to  the 
library,  where  they  took  the  oath  of  office. 

And  now  the  "menagerie,"  still  in  civilian 
dress,  were  herded  three  and  four  in  a  room, 
and  their  first  experience  of  cadet  life  began. 
Except  in  the  mess  hall,  three  times  a  day, 
they  were  only  seen  by  their  barrack  instruc- 
tors and  squad  drill  master.  Wilfred  had  lived 
among  the  soldiers  on  the  frontier  for  years, 

73 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

and  was  a  graduate  of  one  of  the  best  private 
military  schools  in  the  country.  As  a  naval 
officer's  son,  Lenox  had  a  good  idea  of  drills, 
etc.,  but  he  had  not  the  finished  education  of 
Wilfred.  Both  youths  knew  the  only  way  to 
get  on  was  to  do  just  exactly  as  they  were  told, 
and  never  let  on  they  knew  anything,  even  to 
their  classmates. 

The  plebes  were  divided  into  squads  of  four 
each  for  the  setting  up  drill.  The  drill  master 
of  Wilfred's  squad  was  Cadet  Corporal  Chan- 
ler.  He  was  stern  and  ugly,  and  as  unbending 
as  the  steel  ramrod  he  carried  as  a  drill  stick. 
He  saw  that  Lorimer  was  a  pretty  good  soldier, 
and  he  was  harder  on  him  than  on  any  of  the 
rest. 

One  day  Wilfred  laughed  almost  aloud  at  the 
awkwardness  of  one  of  the  plebes.  Chanler  was 
down  on  him  instantly. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  laughing  in  ranks, 
Mr.  Lorimer?  This  is  the  second  time  I've  had 
to  reprimand  you.  Report  at  my  office  imme- 
diately after  supper  this  evening,  sir." 

Wilfred's  eyes  sparkled,  but  he  had  to  gulp 
down  his  wrath. 

74 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

As  soon  as  supper  was  over  Wilfred  went  to 
Chanler's  room.  Cadet  Lieutenant  Rush,  who 
commanded  the  "plebes,"  condemned  him  to 
walk  post  in  the  hall. 

Until  "tattoo"  Wilfred  tramped  his  post, 
with  a  good  many  others.  He  was  filled  with 
anger  and  vowed  in  his  heart  to  "get  even  with 
that  stuck-up  prig  if  he  ever  got  a  chance." 

For  the  purpose  of  military  instruction,  the 
cadets,  every  year  after  the  close  of  the  June 
examination,  leave  the  barracks,  and  are  en- 
camped in  tents  upon  the  plain  during  the 
months  of  July  and  August,  under  all  the  regu- 
lations, discipline  and  police  duty  of  an  army 
in  the  field.  Their  organization  varies  while 
undergoing  instruction  in  the  particular  arms 
of  the  service,  but  the  permanent  organization 
is  that  of  a  battalion  of  infantry,  composed  of 
four  companies. 

In  these  companies  the  four  classes  are  indis- 
criminately mixed.  Each  company  has  a  cap- 
tain, three  lieutenants,  four  sergeants,  and  four 
corporals.  The  battalion  staff  comprises  an  ad- 
jutant, sergeant-major,  quartermaster,  and 
quartermaster's  sergeant.  All  the  remaining 

75 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

cadets  serve  in  the  ranks  as  privates,  though  re- 
quired to  act  as  officers  at  stated  times. 

The  cadet  officers  are  chosen  annually  by  the 
superintendent,  and  the  appointments  are  re- 
garded as  honorable  distinctions.  Each  com- 
pany is  further  supervised  by  an  officer  of  the 
army,  detailed  for  that  purpose,  and  the  whole 
is  commanded  by  an  army  officer,  who  is  ranked 
as  Commandant  of  Cadets. 

Upon  the  faithfulness  of  the  cadet  officers 
much  of  the  discipline  depends,  and  the  degree 
of  faithfulness  is  proportioned  to  the  military 
spirit  of  the  corps. 

Their  duties  are  strictly  defined,  and  an  un- 
due exercise  of  authority,  or  a  captious  and 
domineering  manner,  is  restrained  by  what  may 
be  termed  the  public  spirit  of  the  corps.  The 
cadet  officers  never  act  as  spies.  Treacherous 
information  is  despised  and  unknown  among 
them.  When  not  on  duty,  there  is  no  distinc- 
tion between  them  and  the  other  cadets,  but 
on  all  other  occasions  the  distinction  is  well 
understood  and  properly  maintained. 

As  soon  as  the  graduating  exercises  were 
over,  the  cadets  went  into  camp,  but  the 
76 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

plebes  still  remained  in  the  barracks.  By  the 
first  of  July  all  were  in  the  gray  fatigue  uni- 
forms, and  instead  of  squads  of  four  each,  they 
were  now  consolidated  into  a  half  a  dozen 
squads  for  drill. 

On  the  night  of  July  first  the  new  cadets 
were  assigned  to  the  different  companies  of 
the  battalion.  As  Wilfred  and  Alfred  were 
tall,  they  were  put  in  Company  A,  and  Lenox 
in  Company  B. 

The  next  morning,  the  moment  breakfast 
was  over,  the  new  cadets  took  up  their 
bundles,  containing  such  articles  as  they  are 
allowed  to  have  in  camp,  and  were  marched 
over  to  the  tents.  Old  cadets  are  placed  two 
in  a  tent,  but  the  plebes  four  in  each.  Wilfred, 
Lyman  and  two  other  plebes  were  tent-mates. 

Under  the  instruction  of  Corporal  Warren  it 
did  not  take  them  long  to  arrange  their  things 
in  military  order. 

In  the  evening  the  yearlings  gathered  around 
the  "plebe  hotels."  They,  and  the  first  class 
men,  too,  were  anxious  to  teach  the  plebes  how 
to  fix  up  their  tents.  Wilfred  was  invited  over 
to  a  "yearling  den"  to  see  how  cadet  beds  were 
77 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

made  for  the  night,  and,  under  the  direction 
of  a  cadet  corporal  he  spread  the  blankets,  etc. 
Then  another  yearling  called  his  attention  to 
the  fact  that  the  water-buckets  of  the  old  cadets' 
tents  needed  filling.  "Come,  here,  plebe,"  said 
another,  "you'll  soon  be  getting  your  guns,  so 
I'll  teach  you  how  to  clean  yours." 

In  one  way  and  another  Wilfred  was  kept 
busy  until  tattoo.  But  the  yearlings'  manners 
were  grave  and  dignified ;  they  gave  no  orders, 
and  made  no  demands,  they  could  not  be  said 
to  have  made  him  perform  any  menial  task, 
the  penalty  for  which  was  court-martial  and 
dismissal. 

The  first  day  in  camp  the  plebes  began  police 
duty.  The  details  from  each  company  had  a 
wheelbarrow,  a  shovel,  and  a  broom.  They 
gathered  up  all  the  rubbish  about  the 
camp  and  dumped  it  into  "police  hollow"  near 
the  camp.  Whenever  there  was  a  sign  of  rain 
the  plebes  had  to  turn  out  and  loosen  the  tent- 
cords,  and  after  a  shower  turn  out  and  tighten 
them. 

The  morning  gun-fire  and  reveille  was  at 
5 130  o'clock ;  police  call  five  minutes  after 
78 


Cadet  Lorimef. 

reveille,  and  also  at  4  P.M.;  surgeon's  call  fif- 
teen minutes  after  reveille.  Breakfast  at  six 
o'clock  and  troop  at  eight.  Dinner  was  at  one 
o'clock.  Dress  parade  took  place  at  sunset, 
and  supper  immediately  after.  Tattoo  at  9  130, 
and  taps  at  ten  o'clock,  when  all  lights  must 
be  out. 

There  was  no  military  instruction  on  Sun- 
day. Church  call  was  at  10:35  A.M.  Cadets 
are  required  to  attend  the  service.  Those  who 
preferred,  on  the  ground  of  their  religious 
faith,  to  attend  some  place  of  worship  at  West 
Point  other  than  the  Cadet  Chapel,  had  to  sub- 
mit a  written  declaration  to  that  effect,  with 
the  approval  of  their  parents  or  guardians, 
when  minors,  for  the  consideration  of  the  super- 
intendent. 

The  plebes  received  practical  instruction  in 
infantry  tactics,  police  duty  and  discipline,  and 
practical  instruction  in  artillery  tactics.  They 
have  very  little  time  for  recreation;  only  on 
Saturday  afternoons  and  on  Sundays  is  there 
really  time  and  opportunity  for  rest. 

By  the  5th  of  July  the  plebe  squads  were  re- 
duced to  two  big  consolidated  ones,  and  the 
79 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

whole  class  began  to  receive  instruction  in  ar- 
tillery tactics  at  the  field  battery  south  of  the 
camp. 

After  dinner  on  the  5th  of  July  a  number  of 
cadets,  Lorimer  and  Lenox  among  them,  re- 
ceived full  uniforms,  and  were  ordered  to  get 
ready  to  march  on  guard  the  next  morning. 

In  the  morning,  when  the  assembly  sounded, 
the  plebes  who  were  to  begin  guard  duty  ap- 
peared in  full  uniform  for  a  preliminary  in- 
spection. The  Commandant,  Lieutenant  Col- 
onel Grey,  with  Lieutenant  Bromley,  came  out 
to  look  at  the  members  of  the  new  class  for 
guard.  All  looked  neat  and  trim,  but  the 
Colonel  expressed  his  approval  at  the  sight  of 
Wilfred's  glistening  equipment  and  snowy 
belt. 

Wilfred  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
duies  of  a  sentinel.  He  calmly  walked  the  Post 
No.  4,  and  looked  thoroughly  at  home,  but  he 
paid  careful  attention  to  the  instructions  given 
him  by  the  officers  of  the  guard.  When  he 
repeated  his  long  list  of  instructions  to  the 
officer  in  charge  and  the  cadet  officer  of  the 
day,  they  both  highly  praised  him. 
80 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

During  dinner  the  yearlings  at  Company 
A's  table  pestered  Wilfred  with  all  sorts  of 
questions.  He  kept  his  temper  and  answered 
correctly  all  that  were  not  broad  burlesque. 

Cadets  dread  the  first  night  on  guard,  but 
all  have  to  experience  it.  Wilfred  was  kept 
busy  hurrying  from  one  end  of  his  post  to  the 
other,  challenging  mock  officers,  armed  parties, 
guard  rounds,  reliefs,  friends  with  the  counter- 
sign and  enemies  without  it.  He  became  con- 
fused and  bewildered  and  lost  his  nerve  and 
temper.  He  shouted  for  the  corporal  of  the 
guard,  Post  No.  4,  but  that  official  seemed  par- 
ticularly deaf  that  night. 

Lorimer  and  Lenox  soon  decided  to  "try  for 
colors."  When  the  battalion  stack  their  arms 
immediately  after  "troop,"  the  color-bearer 
furls  the  flag  and  lays  it  upon  the  center  stack, 
a  sentinel  is  immediately  posted,  and  there  the 
flag  remains  until  four  o'clock.  All  persons 
going  in  or  out  of  camp  must  pass  around  the 
line  and  raise  the  cap  in  salute  to  the  flag,  and 
it  is  the  duty  of  the  sentinel  to  see  that  every 
one  does  so.  Ordinary  sentinels  walk  post 
eight  hours  during  the  tour  of  twenty-four, 

ai 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

two  hours  on  and  four  off,  but  the  color-men 
from  8 145  to  4  P.M.  ;  that  is,  less  than  two  and  a 
half  hours  apiece,  and  there  is  no  duty  at  night ; 
so  it  is  a  great  thing  to  win  one  of  the  colors 
at  guard  mounting. 

Lorimer  and  Lenox  tossed  up  their  guns  a 
second  time,  inviting  Cadet-Adjutant  Norris  to 
inspect  them.  He  chose  Wilfred  as  one  of  the 
three  men  to  man  the  color  line.  Frank  Lenox 
was  filled  with  jealousy  and  anger  when  he  was 
passed  by  and  Lorimer  chosen. 

Wilfred  Lorimer  was  seventeen  years  of  age, 
and  a  perfect  specimen  of  youthful  health  and 
vigor.  He  was  tall,  erect,  graceful,  his  form 
as  faultlessly  molded  as  that  of  a  Greek  statue. 
His  complexion  was  a  clear,  dark  olive,  and  his 
cheeks  had  the  rich  coloring  of  youth.  His  eyes 
were  of  the  deepest  black,  large  and  brilliant. 
His  face  was  oval,  the  features  fine  and  regu- 
lar, but  at  times  there  was  a  sneering,  sarcas- 
tic expression  about  the  firm,  handsome  mouth, 
and  a  sinister  light  in  the  eyes,  that  marred 
his  manly  beauty.  He  knew  he  was  hand- 
some, and  was  very  vain.  This,  together  with 
his  haughty  manner,  jealous  disposition,  and 
82 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

passionate  temper  made  him  unpopular,  and  he 
had  few  real  friends  among  his  classmates. 
But  the  fourth  class  regarded  him  as  their 
champion,  for  he  was  the  strongest  man  in 
the  class,  and  stood  up  stoutly  for  the  rights  of 
the  plebes. 

In  a  short  time  the  yearlings  decided  that 
Mr.  Lorimer  was  entirely  "too  fresh,"  and 
must  be  brought  down.  He  was  subjected  to 
all  sorts  of  annoyances.  His  quick  temper  often 
got  the  better  of  him,  and  this  made  it  all  the 
worse  for  him. 

Frank  Lenox  was  the  most  popular  man  in 
his  class.  His  frank,  good-natured  way  of 
taking  a  joke  saved  him  much  annoyance;  he 
took  no  notice  of  petty  tricks,  but  at  the  same 
time  he  let  the  old  cadets  see  he  could  hold  his 
own  and  would  not  take  an  insult. 

The  punishments  to  which  a  cadet  is  liable 
are:  First,  privation  of  recreation  and  privi- 
leges; extra  duty,  reprimands,  arrests,  or  con- 
finement to  his  room  or  tent,  or  in  the  light 
prison ;  reduction  of  officers  to  the  ranks.  Sec- 
ond, confinement  in  the  dark  prison.  Third, 
suspension ;  dismissal,  with  the  privilege  of  re- 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

signing;  public  dismissal.  The  punishments 
of  the  first  class  are  inflicted  by  the  superin- 
tendent; those  of  the  second  only  by  sentence 
of  court  martial,  except  in  cases  of  mutinous 
conduct,  or  breach  of  arrest;  those  of  the 
third  class  only  by  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Besides  these  punishments  there  are  the  de- 
merits, ranging  from  one  demerit  for  an  of- 
fence of  the  seventh  class,  up  to  ten  for  one  of 
the  first  class.  For  the  most  trifling  thing — a 
loose  button,  a  speck  of  dust,  etc. — the  cadets 
receive  one  or  more  demerits.  Any  cadet  who 
receives  125  demerits  between  June  ist  and  De- 
cember 3ist  is  reported  deficient  in  discipline 
and  dismissed. 

Every  cadet  reported  for  an  offence  has 
forty-eight  hours  in  which  to  render  a  writ- 
ten explanation  to  the  Commandant.  If  the 
explanation  is  satisfactory,  the  report  is  crossed 
off;  if  not,  the  offence  is  registered  against  the 
cadet,  and  he  receives  one  or  more  demerits, 
according  to  the  seriousness  of  the  offence. 
Demerits  are  not  recorded  for  the  new  cadets 
before  July  I5th,  and  for  cadets  who  join  Sep- 
tember ist  not  until  October  ist. 

34 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

On  the  1 5th  of  July  the  plebes  were  in- 
formed that  hereafter  they  would  be  reported 
for  all  delinquencies.  The  next  evening,  after 
parade,  when  Mr.  Norris  read  the  delinquency 
list  from  the  "skin-book,"  Lorimer  was  re- 
ported for  inattention  during  drill.  He  really 
had  no  excuse,  but  he  wrote  an  explanation. 
The  Commandant  returned  it,  with  a  sharp 
reprimand,  and  Wilfred  received  more  de- 
merits for  offering  a  highly  improper  excuse. 

A  few  days  later  hot  words  were  exchanged 
between  Corporal  Chanler  and  Wilfred.  The 
latter  lost  all  control  over  himself,  and  sud- 
denly raising  his  hand,  he  gave  the  yearling  a 
stinging  blow  on  the  right  cheek. 

Livid  with  rage,  Chanler  sprang  on  the 
plebe,  but  Wilfred  was  ready  for  him,  and 
felled  him  to  the  earth.  Chanler  sprang  to  his 
feet  and  there  would  have  been  a  fight  on  the 
spot  if  several  yearlings  had  not  grabbed  hold 
of  him. 

"Keep  cool,  Chanler;  you  can't  fight  now. 
You  can  settle  it  later." 

Choking  with  passion,  the  Corporal  growled : 
"You  shall  answer  to  me  for  this,  plebe." 
85 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"You  shall  have  all  the  satisfaction  you  want, 
Mr.  Chanler,"  Wilfred  answered,  haughtily. 

"Warren,  will  you  be  my  second?"  asked 
Chanler. 

"Yes,"  the  corporal  answered. 

"Alison,  you'll  stand  by  me,  won't  you?" 
asked  Wilfred,  turning  to  a  plebe  who  stood 
near;  "I've  just  been  aching  for  a  chance  to 
thrash  that  prig,  Chanler,  and  now  I've  got  it," 
he  continued,  turning  to  Warren  with  flashing 
eyes. 

"All  right,  my  young  fighting  cock;  we'll 
try  to  accommodate  you  to-night  during  sup- 
per," sneered  Warren. 

"As  the  challenged  party,  it  is  my  right  and 
not  yours  to  name  the  time  and  style  of  fight," 
Wilfred  said  haughtily.  "I  will  fight  Mr. 
Chanler  to-night  during  supper,  and  by  the 
Marquis  of  Queensbury  rules."  Then  turning 
to  Chanler  he  said  coldly:  "See  that  you  and 
Mr.  Warren  are  ready." 

It  was  unusual  for  a  plebe  to  bear  himself 
so  haughtily  towards  a  yearling,  and  Chanler's 
brow  darkened. 

"Confound  you,  plebe,"  he  said  angrily; 
86 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

"how  dare  you  speak  to  an  old  cadet  in  this 
manner?  I'll  make  a  chopping-block  of  you 
to-night" 

Wilfred's  only  answer  was  a  contemptuous 
sneer  that  made  the  yearling's  blood  boil. 

The  fife  and  drums  began  to  thunder  away 
at  "The  Roast  Beef  of  Old  England,"  and  put 
an  end  to  further  conversation. 

All  through  dinner  nothing  was  talked  of  at 
the  table  of  Company  A  but  the  coming  "mill" 
between  Chanler  and  Lorimer. 

In  spite  of  every  effort  to  keep  the  details 
secret,  the  whole  corps  knew  when  the  fight 
was  to  come  off. 

Thirty  old  cadets  fell  out  after  parade,  as 
they  were  allowed  to  do  in  case  they  did  not 
care  to  go  to  the  mess-hall.  Wilfred  and  his 
second  borrowed  old  dress  coats  and  white 
trousers. 

Fort  Clinton  is  just  across  posts  Nos.  2  and 
3.  The  referee,  Cadet  Lieutenant  Rush,  had 
seen  to  it  that  at  a  certain  time  the  sentinels 
qn  these  posts  should  be  far  apart,  with  their 
backs  to  each  other  (which  is  against  the  rule). 
Those  who  desired  to  witness  the  fight  as- 
37 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

sembled  at  the  ice-water  tank,  near  which  the 
posts  meet,  and  when  the  sentinels'  backs  were 
turned  they  dashed  across  the  posts  and  over 
the  ramparts  of  Fort  Clinton  and  stopped  near 
Kosciusko's  monument. 

Chanler  had  the  advantage  of  a  year's  train- 
ing in  the  splendid  gymnasium  of  West  Point, 
but  Wilfred  had  been  well  trained  at  Clifton 
Hall.  Both  men  were  about  equal  in  size  and 
strength ;  lithe,  quick,  and  well  taught  with  the 
gloves.  Opinions  were  about  even  as  to  which 
would  win. 

The  combatants  removed  their  coats  and 
with  bared  chests  and  arms  stepped  forward 
into  the  ring.  Wilfred  was  cool  and  collected, 
but  white  as  marble  to  the  very  lips.  A  wild, 
lurid  light  burned  in  his  eyes,  and  his  lips 
curled  back  from  the  glittering  white  teeth. 

The  fight  was  one  of  the  longest  and  fiercest 
ever  seen;  at:  Fort  Clinton.  Round  after  round 
was  fought,  r  At  last  a  terrible  blow  from  Wil- 
fred hurled/ Chanler  to  the  ground.  He  tried 
to  rise  as  "Time!"  was  called,  but  he  fell  back 
with-  a  groan,  and  Wilfred  was  declared  the 
victor. 

88 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

The  combatants  resembled  a  couple  of  prize- 
fighters after  a  battle.  Wilfred  hurried  to 
his  tent.  He  changed  back  to  plebe  dress,  and 
proceeded  to  bathe  his  bumps  and  bruises,  as- 
sisted by  Alison. 

The  moment  the  cadets  broke  ranks  after 
supper  the  plebes  rushed  in  search  of  their 
champion,  and  the  others  clustered  around  the 
referee  for  particulars. 

"The  plebe  won,"  Rush  answered ;  "I  never 
in  my  life  saw  any  one  fight  as  he  did.  He 
pitched  into  Chanler  like  a  wild  beast.  He's 
a  perfect  demon  when  his  blood  is  up." 

The  next  morning  Chanler's  name  appeared 
on  the  morning  sick  report,  submitted  to  the 
Commandant,  with  "contusions"  given  as  the 
reason  of  his  disability.  Every  officer  knew 
that  "contusions"  meant  another  fight,  but  as 
no  one  had  been  caught  in  the  act,  no  punish- 
ment followed. 

Every  day  made  the  plebes  more  and  more 
at  home  in  their  duties  and  in  their  new  life, 
but  it  was  not  pleasant  to  be  compelled,  whether 
in  ranks  or  not,  wherever  they  moved,  to  walk 
with  the  shoulders  forced  back,  whether  erect 
89 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

or  not,  the  little  fingers  on  the  seams  of  the 
trousers  and  the  palms  of  the  hands  turned 
square  to  the  front.  This  method  is  resorted 
to  in  order  to  square  the  shoulders,  flatten  the 
back  and  counteract  the  awkward  carriage  of 
many  of  the  new  cadets. 

Wilfred  received  few  demerits,  and  seemed 
to  get  along  pretty  smoothly  until  the  begin- 
ning of  August.  Then  there  was  a  fight  be- 
tween a  yearling  and  a  plebe  named  Wilmarth, 
and  Wilfred  was  the  latter's  second. 

Several  rounds  were  fought  when  a  sudden 
shout  of  warning  went  up,  the  cadets  darted 
over  the  parapet  and  across  the  road  and  down 
the  thickly  wooded  steep  towards  the  Chain 
Battery  walk.  Lieutenant  Bromley,  the  army 
officer  commanding  Company  A,  had  "jumped" 
the  fight.  He  recognized  Wilfred  and  the  ref- 
eree, Rush. 

Wilfred  was  seated  in  his  tent  when  the 
patrol  came  from  the  guard  tent  and  he  was 
ordered  to  fetch  his  blanket  and  come  along. 

In  full  uniform  Mr.  Norris  went  to  Rush's 
tent  and  delivered  the  following  order:  "Mr. 
Rush,  you  are  hereby  placed  in  close  arrest,  and 
90 


Cadet  Lorimei1. 

confined  to  your  tent.  Charge,  promoting  a 
fight.  By  order  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gray." 

As  a  cadet  officer  Rush  was  confined  to  his 
own  tent  instead  of  at  the  guard  tents. 

A  week  later  Mr.  Norris  read  at  parade: 

"HEADQUARTERS  U.  S.  MILITARY  ACADEMY, 

"August  8th,  189 — . 

"Orders  No.  — .  For  inciting,  promoting 
or  otherwise  participating  in  a  fight,  Cadet 
Lieutenant  Rush,  first  class,  U.  S.  M.  A.,  is 
hereby  reduced  to  the  ranks  and  confined  to  the 
body  of  camp  east  of  the  color  line  until  the 
28th  of  August. 

"New  Cadet  Lorimer,  for  taking  part  in  the 
same,  is  confined  to  camp  for  the  same  period. 

"Both  are  released  from  arrest  and  restored 
to  duty.  By  command  of 

"GENERAL  BLANK,  Superintendent." 

« 

But  Wilfred's  troubles  were  not  over.  The 
last  week  of  the  encampment,  Sylvan  Edmis- 
ton  visited  West  Point,  and  Wilfred  had  per- 
mission to  see  him  for  half  an  hour  in  the  rear 
of  the  guard  tents,  and  then  he  told  his  friend 
91 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

how  to  cross  the  sentinel's  post  and  get  to  his 
tent  Wilfred  and  Sylvan  were  chatting  away 
when  the  officer  of  the  day  appeared,  and  as 
he  is  "on  honor"  to  report  every  violation  of 
the  rules  that  he  sees,  he  reported  Lorimer  for 
having  a  citizen  in  his  tent.  As  it  was  the  28th 
of  August,  the  last  day  of  the  encampment, 
Wilfred  got  two  weeks'  confinement  in  light 
prison. 

On  the  28th,  at  mid-day,  the  furlough  men 
returned.  They  received  a  tumultuous  greet- 
ing; a  charge  of  the  first  and  third  classes  from 
camp,  and  there  was  a  general  smashing  of 
derby  hats.  The  plebes  spent  the  last  evening 
in  camp  singing,  reciting,  and  dancing  for  the 
amusement  of  the  returned  second  class  men. 

In  the  presence  of  a  vast  throng  of  specta- 
tors the  cadets  broke  camp.  A  single  tap  of 
the  drum  and  every  tent  fell  at  once.  And 
then,  to  the  music  of  the  band,  the  battalion 
marched  over  to  the  barracks. 

Wilfred  and  Alfred  Lyman  were  room 
mates.  As  plebes  they  had  only  the  choice  of 
the  top  or  bottom  floor  of  the  front  of  the  bar- 
racks. Their  room  was  in  the  third  division 
92 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

"cockloft,"  as  the  upper  story  in  the  barracks 
is  called. 

Every  cadet  has  his  own  alcove  or  bedroom, 
separated  by  a  wooden  partition.  On  the  side 
nearest  the  wall  is  a  light  iron  bedstead.  The 
rooms  are  very  plainly  furnished ;  a  small  plain 
calendar  may  be  placed  on  the  wall  over  the 
gas  fixture,  and  a  small,  plain  clock  on  the  man- 
tel, but  pictures  or  statuary  are  not  allowed. 

Everything  must  be  kept  in  perfect  order. 
Each  week,  alternately,  Wilfred  and  Alfred 
was  orderly  and  responsible  for  the  order  of 
the  room.  Every  morning,  immediately  after 
reveille  roll-call,  the  orderly  thoroughly  sweeps 
every  part  of  the  floor  of  the  room,  dusts  the 
furniture  and  woodwork,  and  sweeps  the  dirt 
collected  into  the  hall,  and  brings  the  water 
needed.  A  policeman,  or  janitor,  sweeps  the 
hall,  carries  out  the  waste  water  and  scrubs  the 
rooms  and  hall-floors  when  necessary.  The 
orderly  sees  that  a  light  is  in  his  room  imme- 
diately after  evening  call  to  quarters,  and  is 
extinguished  when  the  occupants  are  absent  on 
duty. 

Every  night  after  tattoo,  and  at  or  before 
93 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

taps,  he  causes  all  the  lights  in  the  rooms  not 
authorized  to  be  extinguished. 

The  orderly  board,  giving  the  name  of  the 
orderly  for  the  week,  hangs  on  the  pillar  of 
the  alcove  partition.  Each  cadet  posts  his  own 
name  over  the  alcove,  and  on  the  back  of  the 
door  his  hours  of  recitation,  to  account  for  his 
absence  from  the  room  at  any  inspection. 

The  rooms  are  inspected  in  the  morning  by 
the  cadet-lieutenant  of  the  subdivision,  then 
later  by  the  cadet  officer  of  the  day,  and  morn- 
ing and  evening  by  the  army  officer  in  charge 
of  the  company.  If  any  of  the  inspectors  find 
the  most  trifling  thing  wrong,  as  books,  chairs, 
or  shoes  out  of  place,  even  a  piece  of  paper  on 
the  floor,  he  looks  at  the  orderly  board  and 
whether  the  things  belong  to  the  orderly  or 
his  room-mate,  he  is  responsible,  and  unless  he 
can  give  a  satisfactory  explanation  he  receives 
so  many  demerits  and  light  punishment. 

Life  in  barracks  is  very  dull  and  monotonous, 
and  there  is  very  little  opportunity  for  social 
pleasure.  Hops  are  given  through  the  winter 
on  Saturday  nights,  but  the  plebes  do  not  at- 
tend them. 

94 


Cadet  Lorimer 

The  morning  gun  fire  and  reveille  is  at  six 
o'clock  (Sunday,  6:30)  roll-call;  police  call; 
five  minutes  after  reveille.  The  surgeon's  call 
is  fifteen  minutes  after  reveille,  when  those  who 
are  ill  go  to  the  hospital  to  receive  the  neces- 
sary medical  attendance,  and  to  be  excused  by 
the  surgeon  from  the  performance  of  such  aca- 
demic or  military  duty  as  they  are  incompe- 
tent to  perform. 

After  the  rooms  are  inspected  the  cadets 
clean  their  arms,  or  study  or  take  physical  ex- 
ercise. Breakfast  is  at  6:30,  twenty-five  min- 
utes are  allowed  for  the  meal,  and  a  period  of 
recreation  ensues.  At  7:15  the  guard  is 
mounted.  While  in  barracks  the  cadets  only 
perform  guard  duty  at  meals,  during  the  hours 
allotted  to  study,  and  on  Sundays. 

At  7 155  the  bugle  summons  one-half  of  the 
entire  corps  to  recitation,  and  while  one-half 
recites,  the  other  half,  each  in  his  own  room,  is 
required  to  study.  Study  and  recitation  alter- 
nate for  five  hours.  At  i  o'clock  comes  din- 
ner, and  an  hour  is  allowed  for  the  meal  and 
recreation.  At  2  o'clock  study  and  recita- 
tions begin  again,  and  alternate  until  4  P.M. 
95 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

A  short  period  of  recreation  is  followed  by 
drill  for  about  one  hour  and  a  half,  and  dress 
parade  takes  place  at  sundown.  Supper  comes 
immediately  afterward,  except  that  it  is  never 
earlier  than  half -past  five. 

After  thirty  minutes  for  recreation,  the  bugle 
calls  to  quarters  and  evening  study,  which  con- 
tinues until  tattoo,  at  half-past  nine.  At  10 
o'clock  comes  the  "taps,"  when  the  lights  are 
extinguished,  or,  in  cadet  language,  "dousing 
the  glim."  All  cadets  must  be  in  bed,  except 
the  cadet-officers  who  inspect  the  rooms  to  see 
that  the  regulations  are  observed. 

Saturday  afternoon  is  a  holiday,  except  be- 
tween 2  and  2  130,  when  the  weekly  inspection 
of  the  battalion  takes  place.  On  Wednesdays 
after  4  P.M.  there  are  no  drills.  On  Sundays 
there  are  no  recitations  or  military  duties,  ex- 
cept guard  and  inspection  of  quarters  at  9 145. 
Church  call  is  at  10:40;  the  cadets  march  to 
and  from  the  chapel,  they  wear  white  gloves, 
white  belts,  and  the  cadet  officers  wear  swords. 
The  latter  are  removed  during  the  service. 

In  September  there  are  infantry  drills,  and 
in  October  artillery  drills  at  the  various  bat- 
96 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

teries.  In  November  outdoor  drills  cease  until 
April.  In  April  there  are  infantry  drills,  and 
in  May  artillery.  In  every  month  from  Sep- 
tember until  June  there  are  cavalry  exercises. 

For  half  an  hour  after  breakfast,  dinner  or 
supper  the  cadets  can  visit  in  barracks,  or  go 
from  room  to  room.  At  any  other  time,  day 
or  night,  visiting  is  forbidden,  and  is  punished 
by  demerits  and  confinement. 

A  number  of  "Seps"  arrived.  They  are 
cadets,  who,  on  account  of  illness  or  some  other 
unavoidable  cause,  did  not  report  in  June. 
They  began  recitations  with  the  rest  of  the 
plebes,  but  for  weeks  they  attended  drills  in 
squads  by  themselves. 

Wilfred  had  two  weeks'  confinement  in  light 
prison.  The  light  prisons  are  rooms  in  the 
angle  of  the  barracks,  and  they  are  off  limits 
for  the  other  cadets.  The  cadet  officer  of  the 
day  has  the  key,  and  he  lets  out  the  prisoner 
for  meals,  recitations  and  military  duties. 
Cadets  in  light  prison  march  to  meals  with  the 
guard. 

During  the  period  of  recreation  after  sup- 
per Lyman  generally  went  for  a  walk,  but  Wil- 

97 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

f red  and  his  friends  sat  in  his  room  and  smoked 
cigars.  The  use  of  tobacco  in  any  form  is  for- 
bidden, but  many  of  the  cadets  use  it.  It  is 
very  easy  to  bribe  some  of  the  servants  or  the 
drum  boys  to  buy  cigars  for  them.  But  Wil- 
fred never  smoked  himself  or  allowed  others 
to  do  so  when  Lyman  was  orderly,  for  if  dis- 
covered he  would  be  held  responsible,  and, 
with  all  his  faults,  Lorimer  was  too  generous 
to  let  Alfred  suffer  for  his  fault. 

One  evening,  when  he  was  orderly,  even 
after  the  call  to  quarters,  Wilfred  continued  to 
smoke.  Bang!  There  was  a  single  knock  at 
the  door.  Wilfred  threw  the  cigar  into  a  cor- 
ner and  sprang  up  and  "stood  attention,"  stiff 
and  rigid  as  a  steed  ramrod.  In  came  Lieu- 
tenant Bromley.  The  air  was  heavy  with  the 
odor  of  tobacco.  The  officer's  face  grew 
stern,  but  he  said  nothing,  only  glared  at  the 
orderly  board.  The  next  evening  Mr.  Norris 
read  from  the  "skin-book"  : 

"Lorimer,  orderly;  tobacco  smoke  in  quar- 
ters, 7:30  P.M." 

Wilfred  could  offer  no  excuse,  and,  besides 
the  demerits,  for  six  consecutive  Saturday  af- 
98 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

ternoons,  armed  and  equipped  as  a  sentry,  he 
tramped  up  and  down  the  area  of  the  barracks. 

The  studies  of  the  fourth  class  are  the  first 
part  of  the  course  in  mathematics,  first  part  of 
the  course  in  French ;  course  in  English  studies 
and  military  gymnastics;  use  of  the  small 
sword,  broad  sword  and  bayonet.  Wilfred  had 
the  advantage  of  a  finished  education,  and  he 
was  a  brilliant  scholar.  He  had  been  over  the 
course  in  mathematics  time  and  time  again; 
and  he  could  converse  fluently  in  French.  In 
a  short  time  he  was  in  the  first  section.  Frank 
Lenox  had  been  well  educated,  but  he  was  not 
such  a  brilliant  scholar  as  Wilfred.  By  hard 
study,  however,  he  got  into  the  first  section 
and  managed  to  stay  there,  but  often  his  heart 
was  filled  with  bitter  envy  as  he  listened  to  his 
classmate's  finished  recitations. 

Alfred  Lyman  had  been  but  imperfectly  edu- 
cated, and  he  had  to  study  very  hard.  Wil- 
fred generously  gave  him  all  the  help  he  could. 

Alfred  was  a  Universalist  and  strict  church 
member,  while  Wilfred  boldly  declared  he  was 
an  atheist,  yet  the  two  were  the  best  of  friends, 
and  remained  so  while  at  the  Academy. 

99 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Wilfred  was  a  fine  soldier  and  brilliant 
scholar,  but  in  some  ways  he  recklessly  vio- 
lated the  regulations.  Besides  the  use  of  ci- 
gars he  often  ventured  off  cadet  limits,  and 
once  in  a  while  he  joined  a  few  other  cadets  in 
playing  cards.  Some  of  his  friends  warned  him 
to  be  careful,  but  Wilfred  passionately  resented 
their  interference. 

Alfred  was  shocked  to  find  that  his  room- 
mate, with  Alison,  Wilmarth  and  several 
others  of  the  "fast  set,"  spent  part  of  Sunday 
in  playing  cards,  and  he  determined  to  speak 
to  Wilfred. 

One  evening  Lorimer  sat  reading  a  book  he 
had  smuggled  into  barracks,  and  when  he  laid 
it  down  Alfred  took  it  up  and  glanced  at  the 
title  page.  It  was  a  novel  written  by  a  noted 
rationalist,  and  Alfred  noticed  in  one  place  that 
the  miraculous  birth  of  our  Saviour  was  openly 
ridiculed. 

"Wilfred,  don't  read  that  book,"  he  said 
earnestly.  "If  you  only  knew  the  comfort,  the 
peace  of  a  believer,  if  you  would  only  try  to 
follow  Christ,  how  much  happier  you  would 
be." 

JOO 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

The  proud  atheist's  lip  curled.  "The  Bible 
is  nothing  but  a  mass  of  contradictions  and 
errors,"  he  said  haughtily,  "and  I  doubt  if  such 
a  person  as  Jesus  Christ  ever  lived." 

"How  is  it  possible  for  four  men  to  each 
have  falsely  drawn  the  same  character?" 
asked  Alfred.  "The  fact  that  we  have  such  a 
record  is  a  positive  proof  that  such  a  life  was 
lived  and  such  doctrines  were  taught.  It  was 
out  of  the  power  of  man  to  imagine  such  a  be- 
ing, such  a  life,  and  such  doctrines.  If  Christ 
never  lived  how  do  you  account  for  Chris- 
tianity?" 

"If  such  a  person  did  live  He  was  nothing 
but  a  good  man,"  said  the  atheist  sullenly. 

"Jesus  Christ  was  the  Son  of  God,"  Alfred 
answered  firmly.  "It  is  true  we  cannot  com- 
prehend his  miraculous  birth,  but  how,  other- 
wise, can  we  account  for  the  mighty  miracles 
of  our  Saviour  ?  No  mere  man  could  have  lived 
such  a  life,  and  performed  such  miracles  as 
Christ  did.  Jesus  of  Nazareth  was  more  than 
a  mere  mortal.  He  is  the  Incarnate  Word  of 
the  Father  Almighty,  Son  of  God  and  Son  of 
Man,  who  for  us  men,  and  for  our  salvation, 
MM 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

was  crucified,  and  was  buried,  and  according 
to  the  Scriptures,  rose  again  the  third  day." 

"He  never  taught  anything  new,"  the  athe- 
ist insisted. 

"Who  before  our  Saviour  ever  taught  the 
universal  Fatherhood  of  God,  the  brother- 
hood of  man,  the  spiritual  kingdom  of  heaven 
and  the  way  for  men  to  obtain  eternal  life? 
Tell  me  who  ever  taught  these  things  ?  If  they 
are  but  old  truths  put  in  a  new  form,  tell  me 
where  are  these  old  truths  to  be  found?" 

"The  Jehovah  you  Christians  worship 
is "  began  Wilfred. 

"Stop!"  cried  Alfred  sternly,  "God  is  a 
kind  and  loving  Father.  The  Bible  says  :  'The 
Lord  is  good  to  all,  and  his  tender  mercies 
are  over  all  his  works.'  Wilfred  Lorimer, 
never  in  my  presence  shall  you  speak  irrev- 
erently of  God  or  our  Saviour." 

There  was  a  pause,  then  Alfred  said  gravely : 
"Wilfred,  I  heard  that  last  Sunday  you,  with 
Alison  and  others,  spent  part  of  the  day  gam- 
bling, playing  cards  for  money " 

"Who  gave  you  the  right  to  dictate  to  me, 
Mr,  Lyman?"  asked  Wilfred,  turning  on  him 
J02  -  * 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

with  flashing  eyes.  "I  don't  pretend  to  be  one 
of  the  saints,"  he  continued,  with  a  covert 
sneer.  "You  can  go  your  way  and  I'll  go 
mine." 

Alfred's   face   flushed   hotly   at   the   insult. 
Wilfred  turned  to  the  window  and  hummed: 


"To  the  ladies  of  the  Orange  clime,  let  all 

our  bumpers  -flow; 

Who  dares  gainsay  their  peerless  charms  must 
take  a  knightly  blow, 

We'll  throw  the  gauntlet  in  their  cause,  and 

taunt  the  soulless  foe, 
Who  hesitates  to  drink  to   them  at  Benny 

Haven's,  oh!" 

For  several  days  there  was  a  coldness  be- 
tween Wilfred  and  Alfred,  and  then  the 
former  made  an  humble  apology. 

At  last  came  the  January  examination.  Wil- 
fred passed  it  very  easily.  In  spite  of  his  reck- 
lessness he  had  fewer  demerits  than  any  one  in 
the  fourth  class,  except  Alfred,  and  he  was 
J03 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

head  of  the  class.  Lenox  was  third  and  Ly- 
man  stood  tenth.  Frank  Lenox  had  studied 
very  hard  all  the  term,  and  expected  to  be 
first.  He  made  no  attempt  to  conceal  his 
jealousy  and  disappointment. 

The  January  examination  terminated  the 
term  of  probation  for  the  plebes ;  they  received 
their  warrants  and  were  sworn  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States  for  eight  years.  A  num- 
ber were  pronounced  "not  proficient,"  and  dis- 
charged. 

One  evening,  soon  after  the  examination, 
Wilfred,  Alison  and  Wilmarth  went  to  supper 
at  Highland  Falls  after  "taps."  On  the  way 
back  they  met  Lieutenant  Bromley.  He  recog- 
nized Wilmarth  and  called  out  sternly: 

"Halt,  Mr.  Wilmarth." 

Finding  he  was  "hived  perfectly  frigid,"  the 
cadet  stood  still. 

"Who  were  the  others  with  you,  Mr.  Wil- 
marth?" 

"I  prefer  not  to  answer,  sir." 

"Go  to  your  quarters  in  close  arrest,"  was 
the  stern  order. 

Then  the  Lieutenant  hurried  back  to  the 
J04 


Cadet  Lorimef. 

Academy.  He  informed  Colonel  Grey  of  what 
had  occurred,  and  an  inspection  was  ordered.  As 
the  name  of  each  cadet  is  written  over  his  al- 
cove it  was  easy  to  discover  that  Cadet  Alison 
was  absent. 

Wilfred  succeeded  in  reaching  his  room  and 
slipping  into  bed  just  an  instant  before  the  in- 
spector entered.  When  the  lantern  was  flashed 
into  his  face  he  opened  one  eye  and  moved  un- 
easily, as  if  disturbed  in  the  midst  of  a  sound 
slumber. 

The  next  day  Alison  and  Wilmarth  were 
summoned  before  General  Blank.  Lieutenant 
Bromley  positively  asserted  there  were  three 
cadets.  Alison  and  Wilmarth  were  sharply 
questioned,  but  they  would  not  tell  the  name  of 
the  other. 

"Who  was  the  third  culprit  ?"  No  one  knew ; 
not  even  Lyman  was  aware  that  his  room- 
mate had  been  absent  that  night. 

Alison  and  Wilmarth  were  placed  in  close 
arrest  and  a  court-martial  was  ordered  to  try 
them.  Every  effort  was  made  to  discover  who 
the  other  was,  but  in  vain.  During  the  trial 
Wilfred  was  in  an  agony  of  fear. 
105 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

The  two  culprits  were  found  guilty,  the 
President  approved  of  the  sentence  of  the 
court  and  they  were  publicly  dismissed. 

The  winter  soon  passed  and  the  spring  drills 
began.  At  the  June  examination,  Wilfred  was 
still  head  of  the  class,  and  he  was  chosen  first 
corporal.  Lenox  and  Lyman  were  also  made 
corporals. 

The  plebes  are  addressed  as  Mr.  by  the  other 
cadets,  first  class  men  and  all,  but  the  next 
year  the  formal  title  is  dropped,  and  the  new 
yearlings  are  welcomed  to  the  comradeship  of 
the  corps.  They  are  called  by  their  surnames 
or  nicknames,  and  in  return  they  address  even 
the  first  captain  as  Jones  or  Smith. 

Wilfred  was  one  of  the  yearlings  chosen  for 
special  duty  over  plebes.  Lenox  had  hoped  to 
win  this  honor,  and  no  cadet  marched  into  camp 
with  such  a  demon  of  jealousy  and  bitter 
hatred  in  his  heart  as  did  Frank  Lenox. 

Wilfred  ruled  his  men  with  a  rod  of  iron, 
but  never  was  there  a  better  drill-master,  and 
his  squad  was  the  first  to  be  put  in  uniform  and 
receive  muskets.  As  they  were  in  the  same 
company,  Wilfred  and  Alfred  were  tent-mates. 
J06 


Cadet  Lorimef. 

The  yearlings  attended  the  hops  that  are 
given  on  Monday,  Wednesday  and  Friday 
evenings,  from  8  o'clock  till  n,  during  the 
encampment.  The  handsomest  man  in  the 
corps,  a  splendid  dancer,  and  perfectly  at  home 
in  polite  society,  Wilfred  Lorimer  was  a  great 
pet  among  the  ladies,  and  soon  gained  the  repu- 
tation of  being  a  "spoony  man." 

No  one  did  his  duty  better  than  Cadet  Cor- 
poral Lorimer.  The  officers  declared  he  was 
a  born  soldier.  From  .a  military  standpoint, 
the  strictest  and  most  exacting  among  them 
could  find  no  fault  with  him,  but  personally  he 
was  not  a  favorite  with  any  of  them. 

Lenox  was  the  most  popular  man  in  the 
corps.  Frank  envied  Wilfred  and  was  jealous 
of  the  class  honors  he  won,  while  Wilfred  cor- 
dially hated  Frank  because  of  his  popularity 
with  the  cadets.  Keen  and  bitter  was  the 
rivalry  between  them. 

At  the  first  hop  of  the  season  Wilfred  was 
introduced  to  Eveline  Grey,  the  Commandant's 
daughter,  a  pretty  brunette,  just  seventeen  years 
of  age.  She  was  a  pupil  in  the  private  seminary 
of  the  Misses  Verner,  on  North  Broad  Street, 
J07 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Philadelphia,  and  was  home  for  the  summer 
vacation.  She  wore  a  dress  of  white  satin, 
trimmed  with  tulle  and  white  satin  ribbon. 

Wilfred  Lorimer  was  a  pet  among  the  young 
ladies  at  the  "Point,"  and,  while  he  flirted  and 
fooled  with  a  great  many  of  them,  still  he  was 
very  attentive  to  Miss  Grey,  and  most  of  the 
girls  envied  her. 

During  the  last  week  of  the  encampment, 
the  Cadet  Captain  of  Company  A  reported 
Lorimer  for  neglect  of  duty.  The  offence  was 
a  serious  one,  and  Wilfred  trembled  for  the 
result.  He  felt  almost  certain  that  he  would 
be  reduced  to  the  ranks.  His  pride  was  stung 
at  the  thought  of  the  disgrace,  and  it  maddened 
him  to  think  how  Lenox  would  triumph  over 
him.  He  cursed  his  folly.  He  was  seated  in 
his  tent  when  a  drum-boy  orderly  came  up  and 
said: 

"Mr.  Lorimer,  General  Blank  wants  to  see 
you." 

Wilfred  went  to  the  office,  saluted  and  stood 
attention.  General  Blank's  face  was  grave  and 
stern,  and  Wilfred  was  most  severely  repri- 
manded. There  were  several  officers  in  the 
108 


Cadet  Lorimer. 

room,  and  to  be  so  severely  rebuked  before  them 
stung  the  haughty  Lorimer's  pride  to  the 
very  quick.  He  was  compelled  to  stand  silent 
and  attentive  during  the  reprimand,  but  he 
grew  crimson  to  the  very  temples  with  morti- 
fication and  anger. 

"Your  offence  is  a  serious  one,  Mr.  Lori- 
mer,  and  seems  to  be  the  result  of  willful  care- 
lessness," the  General  concluded  in  his  stern- 
est tone,  "but  you  have  had  such  an  excellent 
record  since  you  entered  the  Academy,  and  as 
it  is  the  first  really  serious  offence  for  which 
you  have  been  reported,  I  shall  not  reduce  you 
to  the  ranks,  but  there  must  be  no  more  such 
reports.  That  is  all." 

Wilfred  saluted,  faced  about,  and  gravely 
marched  away,  holding  his  head  very  high, 
and  looking  straight  before  him,  but  his  face 
was  hot  and  frowning. 

His  classmates  all  expected  he  would  be 
broken,  and  they  congratulated  him  on  getting 
off  with  ten  demerits  and  a  reprimand,  but 
Wilfred  knew  if  he  were  reported  again  he 
would  lose  his  chevrons. 

The  Misses  Verner's  seminary  did  not  re- 
J09 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

open  until  the  I5th  of  September.  The  last 
Saturday  that  Miss  Grey  would  be  at  the 
"Point"  Wilfred  called  on  her,  and  just  be- 
fore taking  his  leave  he  asked  her  if  she  would 
write  to  him  once  in  a  while. 

"I  will  if  mother  is  willing,"  Eveline  re- 
plied. 

"Shall  I  ask  her,  then?"    inquired  Wilfred. 

"Oh,  yes,  if  you  like,"  Miss  Eveline  re- 
sponded. 

He  asked  Mrs.  Grey's  permission  to  estab- 
lish a  friendly  correspondence  with  her  daugh- 
ter. Wilfred  was  not  a  favorite  with  either 
the  Commandant  or  his  wife,  and  she  said, 
rather  coldly: 

"I  really  don't  think  it  would  be  best,  Mr. 
Lorimer.  1  was  brought  up  very  strictly  in 
that  regard  myself,  and  have  never  allowed 
Eveline  to  have  any  correspondence  except 
among  her  girl  friends." 

Wilfred  was  sorry,  and  said  so;  he  tried  to 
urge  her  to  alter  her  decision,  but  she  was 
firm. 

The  fourth  class  spend  one  hour  daily  in  the 
gymnasium,  in  athletics,  and  horseback  exer- 

no 


Cadet  Lorimef. 

cises  on  wooden  steeds,  but  in  the  second  year 
the  instruction  in  the  riding-hall  begins.  The 
exhibitions  of  horsemanship  made  are  truly 
wonderful,  and  at  the  end  of  his  second  year 
a  cadet  can  perform  feats  that  would  astonish 
a  circus-rider.  Wilfred  was  fond  of  horses, 
and  a  good  rider,  and  he  soon  became  the 
most  expert  and  daring  rider  in  his  class.  He 
was  also  a  splendid  shot,  and  could  easily  dis- 
arm the  fencing  master. 

At  the  January  examination,  Wilfred  was 
still  at  the  head  of  his  class.  The  winter  soon 
passed,  and  Wilfred  got  through  it  without 
getting  into  any  serious  scrapes. 

As  June  approached,  tailors  visited  the  Point 
with  samples  of  summer  suitings,  and  the  com- 
missary tailor  also  had  samples  to  show,  and 
the  yearlings  ordered  new  suits  to  wear  on  fur- 
lough. 

A  salute  of  seventeen  guns  was  fired  when 
the  Board  of  Visitors  arrived.  Beginning 
with  guard-mounting  at  8  o'clock,  oral  exam- 
ination from  9  to  4,  followed  by  infantry,  ar- 
tillery, or  cavalry  drill,  the  day  ended 
with  dress  parade  at  sunset.  In  the  evening 

\\\ 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

those  cadets  who  had  permits  could  be  to- 
gether at  the  hotel  or  officers'  quarters.  Dur- 
ing all  these  festivities,  which  lasted  about 
three  weeks,  all  the  cadets  were  undergoing 
rigid  examinations,  at  which  many  failed. 

When  the  results  of  the  examination  were 
announced,  Wilfred  led  the  second  class,  and 
was  made  first  sergeant.  Lenox  and  Lyman 
were  also  sergeants. 

Lenox  heard  his  rival's  name  read  out  as 
first  sergeant  with  bitter  envy. 

" that  proud  Lorimer!"  he  thought, 

grinding  his  teeth  in  jealous  anger.  "He  shall 
not  graduate  number  one,  I  swear  he  shall 
not." 

The  pay  of  a  cadet  is  $540  a  year.  All 
wants  are  supplied  at  a  trifle  above  cost,  and 
each  month  the  cadets  are  credited  with  $45, 
and  it  is  sufficient,  with  economy,  to  supply  all 
wants.  When  cadets  leave  the  Academy  the 
balance  due  is  paid  over  to  them. 

When  the  furlough  men  came  to  settle  ac- 
counts with  the  treasurer,  some  had  quite  a 
nice  little  sum  due  to  them;  others,  who  had 
been  extravagant,  had  nothing,  and  Wilfred 
was  among  them. 


Belle  of  West  Point. 


CHAPTER  XL 

BELLE  OF  WEST   POINT. 


"Fairer  than  Rachel  by  the  palmy  well, 
Fairer  than  Ruth  among  the  fields  of  corn, 
Fair  as  the  Angel  that  said  'hail !'  she  seemed ; 
For  her  fresh  and  innocent  eyes 
Had  such  a  star  of  morning  in  their  blue, 
That  all  the  neglected  places  of  the  field 
Broke  into  nature's  music  when  they  saw  her." 

— Aylmer's  Field.     Tennyson. 

"The  lover  is  a  god, — the  ground 

He  threads  on  is  not  ours ; 
His  soul  by  other  laws  is  bound, 

Sustained  by  other  powers ; 
His  own  and  that  one  other  heart 
Form  for  himself  a  world  apart." 

— Milnes. 


WILFRED  was  Alfred's  guest  for  two  weeks 
in  a  pretty  country  town  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
Lyman  did  all  in  his  power  to  make  the  visit 
a  pleasant  one. 

Alfred  was  Wilfred's  guest  for  a  short  time 
at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Fairlie,  and  then  they 
both  visited  a  classmate. 
U3 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Roland  would  have  leave  of  absence  during 
the  latter  part  of  Wilfred's  furlough,  and  the 
brothers  had  arranged  to  go  to  Long  Branch. 

"I  want  a  generous  sum,  Mr.  Fairlie,"  Wil- 
fred said  haughtily.  "Things  cannot  be  had 
for  nothing  at  Long  Branch." 

His  guardian  filled  out  a  check  and  gave  it 
to  him.  Wilfred's  brow  grew  dark  as  night. 
"Mr.  Fairlie,  I  am  nineteen,  and  I  will  not 
be  treated  like  a  child,"  he  said  angrily.  "I 
want  three  times  as  much  as  that." 

"The  sum  I  have  given  you  will  gratify 
every  reasonable  want,"  his  guardian  answered 
sternly.  "I  make  no  allowance  for  fashion- 
able vices." 

Wilfred's  eyes  flashed  fire. 

"I  have  a  right  to  do  what  I  like  with  my 
own." 

"You  are  not  of  age  yet,"  Mr.  Fairlie  an- 
swered coldly,  and  he  turned  away. 

Wilfred  burst  into  a  violent  passion  and 
urged  and  pleaded  in  vain  for  a  larger  check. 

"I  shall  give  you  no  more,"  was  his  guar- 
dian's firm  answer,  and  Wilfred  knew  he 
might  just  as  well  try  to  move  a  stone  wall. 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

"I  warn  you,  Mr.  Fairlie,  that  I  shall  do 
just  as  I  like,"  he  said  angrily. 

"Understand  me,  Wilfred,  I  will  not  be  re- 
sponsible if  you  run  in  debt." 

"We'll  see  about  that,"  sneered  Wilfred, 
and  he  left  the  room,  slamming  the  door  vio- 
lently. 

Mr.  Edmiston  and  his  family  were  among 
the  guests  at  the  West  End  Hotel  at  Long 
Branch.  Sylvan  was  a  sophomore  at  Har- 
vard, and  had  the  name  of  being  the  fastest 
fellow  in  the  college.  He  had  many  friends 
among  the  young  men  at  the  fashionable  re- 
sort, and  the  whole  set  indulged  in  every  fash- 
ionable folly.  Roland  tried  hard  to  get  his 
brother  away  from  them,  but  he  might  just 
as  well  have  talked  to  the  wind. 

One  day  Wilfred  said  abruptly: 

"Roley,  I  want  five  hundred  dollars.  I  lost 
it  at  play,  and  the  debt  must  be  paid." 

Roland  sharply  reproved  him. 

"I  didn't  come  here  to  have  you  read  me  a 
lecture,"  Wilfred  said  angrily.  "Let  me  have 
the  money,  Roley.  If  the  debt  of  honor  is  not 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

paid  I  should  be  disgraced  forever.  I  could 
never  hold  up  my  head  again." 

"It  would  do  you  no  good  to  give  you  the 
money ;  it  would  only  encourage  you  to  gamble 
all  the  more.  Oh.  Wilfred,  that  vice  has  been 
the  curse  of  our  family." 

"I  must  have  the  money,  Roley.  I  cannot 
appeal  to  old  Fairlie,  for  he  said  he  wouldn't 
be  responsible  if  I  run  in  debt.  Where  else 
can  I  get  it?" 

"If  I  give  you  the  money  will  you  promise 
not  to  play  or  bet  again?" 

"No;  I  shall  promise  nothing,"  was  Wil- 
fred's sharp  retort. 

At  last,  after  a  long  and  stormy  scene,  and 
against  his  better  judgment,  Roland  gave  him 
the  money,  but  firmly  declared  it  would  be  the 
last  penny  for  such  a  purpose. 

The  handsome  ensign  and  his  cadet  brother 
were  favorites  with  the  fair  sex,  and  Wilfred 
flirted  with  every  pretty  girl  he  met.  Ro- 
land was  courteous  and  attentive  to  the  ladies, 
but  he  never  flirted.  More  than  one  women 
would  gladly  become  Mrs.  Lorimer,  but  Ro- 
land had  loved  once  and  forever. 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

All  too  soon  for  him,  Wilfred's  furlough 
came  to  an  end.  The  wild  life  had  told  on 
him ;  he  looked  pale  and  utterly  worn  out.  Mr 
Fairlie's  check  was  soon  gone,  and  Roland 
firmly  refused  him  another  penny  after  pay- 
ing the  gambling  debt,  but  Wilfred  had  no 
difficulty  in  getting  anything  he  wanted  on 
Sylvan's  recommendation.  Just  before  he 
started  for  West  Point  he  placed  a  number  of 
bills  in  Roland's  hands. 

"You  must  pay  these,  Roley,"  he  said 
coolly. 

Roland  hesitated  whether  to  send  them  to 
Mr.  Fairlie  or  not.  He  finally  decided  to  pay 
them,  but  he  wrote  a  stern,  sharp  letter  to  his 
brother. 

Alfred  Lyman  and  Wilfred  were  still  in 
Company  A,  and  room-mates. 

The  studies  of  the  second  class  are  difficult, 
and  this  year  Wilfred  had  to  study  hard,  and 
he  did  not  relish  it,  but  he  was  ambitious, 
and  determined  to  keep  his  place. 

The  position  of  cadet-sergeant  is  a  trying 
one.  The  first  class  men  think  it  beneath  their 
U7 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

dignity  to  be  attentive  to  regulations,  and  the 
sergeants  have  to  be  constantly  awake,  or  the 
company  will  become  lax.  Wilfred  knew  this, 
and  he  decided  that  the  first  class  should  be 
just  as  soldierly  as  the  others. 

One  morning,  Ralph  Fullerton,  a  dandy 
first  class  man,  who  was  nicknamed  "Curly," 
backed  into  ranks  with  his  belts  disarranged, 
and  attempted  to  adjust  them. 

"Fullerton,  fall  out  and  fix  your  belts,"  was 
Wilfred's  stern  order. 

The  cadet  glanced  at  him  out  of  the  corner 
of  his  eye,  but  did  not  move.  Wilfred's  brow 
darkened,  but  his  voice  was  low  and  firm. 

"Fullerton,  fall  out  at  once  and  fix  those 
belts." 

"My  belts  are  all  right,"  Fullerton  answered 
sullenly. 

"They  were  disarranged  when  you  fell  in 
ranks,"  Wilfred  said  sternly.  "You  heard  my 
order  to  fall  out  and  disobeyed  it." 

The  next  evening  after  parade  the  cadet- 
adjutant  read  the  following,  among  the  re- 
ports: 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

"FULLERTON — Adjusting  belts  in  ranks  at 
reveille. 

"SAME — Continuing  same  after  being  or- 
dered to  fall  out. 

"SAME — Replying  to   first   sergeant   from 
ranks." 

Just  before  supper,  Hugh  Maitland,  one  of 
the  strongest  men  in  the  corps,  came  to  Wil- 
fred and  said : 

"Mr.  Lorimer,  you  have  taken  advantage  of 
Mr.  Fullerton's  size.  You  wouldn't  have 
dared  to  speak  to  him  as  you  did  if  you  weren't 
altogether  too  big  for  him  to  tackle.  In  his 
name  and  that  of  the  first  class  I  demand  satis- 
faction." 

Wilfred  gazed  at  him  scornfully. 

"I  am  ready,  Mr.  Maitland,"  he  said 
haughtily.  "You  shall  have  all  the  satisfac- 
tion you  want." 

The  battle  at  Fort  Clinton  during  supper 
was  long  and  terrible.  At  last,  about  five 
minutes  before  the  call  to  quarters,  Maitland 
was  hurled  to  the  earth.  He  tried  to  rise  but 
fell  back. 

"I  yield,  I  yield,"  he  gasped. 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Almost  stunned  with  the  force  of  the  blow, 
he  lay  for  a  few  moments  unable  to  move,  and 
several  of  the  cadets  went  to  his  assistance. 

Wilfred  was  battered  and  bruised,  nearly 
blind,  and  his  wrist  was  sprained.  He  was  in 
the  hospital  for  three  days,  and  Maitland  for  a 
week. 

For  a  long  time  the  "mill"  between  Lorimer 
and  Maitland  was  the  talk  of  the  whole  corps. 

Fullerton's  reports  were  serious  ones,  and 
he  walked  punishment  tours  until  Christmas. 

Wilfred  had  no  more  trouble  with  any  of  the 
company. 

Eveline  Grey  had  been  graduated  from  the 
Misses  Verner's  Academy  in  June,  and  when 
Wilfred  returned  from  his  furlough,  he  re- 
newed his  attentions  to  her,  and  all  through 
the  winter  he  spent  a  great  deal  of  his  spare 
time  with  her.  Alfred  Lyman  had  paid  her  a 
good  deal  of  attention,  but,  seeing  that  she 
favored  Wilfred,  he  left  the  field  to  him. 

In  June  Wilfred  Lorimer  was  head  of  the 
first  class,  and  was  chosen  first  captain.     Ly- 
man  was  the   senior   lieutenant,   and   Frank 
Lenox  captain  of  Company  B. 
120 


Belle  of  West  Point, 

Captain  Rexford  was  the  army  officer  com- 
manding Company  A  that  year.  Just  after  the 
graduating  exercises  his  daughter  Ida  came 
home  from  boarding-school,  having  graduated 
with  high  honors. 

Ida  Rexford  was  an  only  child,  and  from 
very  infancy  she  had  been  petted  and  indulged, 
and  her  every  whim  gratified.  Once  in 
a  while  Captain  Rexford  remonstrated  with 
his  wife  about  the  way  she  was  spoiling  Ida, 
but  he  was  an  easy-going  man,  completely  un- 
der the  influence  of  his  wife.  Ida  was  very 
beautiful,  but  vain,  selfish  and  utterly  heartless. 
At  fifteen  years  of  age  she  was  sent  to  Madame 
du  Lauren's  classical  and  finishing  school  for 
young  ladies,  where  she  remained  until  she  was 
eighteen.  It  was  an  enigma  how  Captain  Rex- 
ford managed  to  send  his  daughter  to  such  an 
expensive  school,  as  he  had  nothing  but  his 
pay. 

On  Saturday  afternoon,  Wilfred  and  other 
cadets  called  on  Mrs.  Rexford.  They  were  in- 
troduced to  Ida,  and  she  completely  fascinated 
them  all. 

At  the  hop  on  Monday  night  Ida  was  the 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

most  beautiful  young  lady  present.  She  was 
of  a  nice  height,  with  a  graceful  figure,  a  pink 
and  white  complexion,  rosy  lips,  large,  beau- 
tiful eyes  of  the  deepest  violet,  and  golden 
brown  hair.  She  wore  an  exquisite  toilette  of 
dotted  pale  green  mousseline  de  soie  over  green 
satin,  with  a  bodice  of  green  broche,  trimmed 
with  velvet  and  white  lace.  It  was  very  be- 
coming to  her  blonde  beauty. 

She  was  surrounded  by  admirers,  but  Wil- 
fred and  Frank  Lenox  were  the  favored  ones. 
From  that  night  Wilfred  was  the  devoted 
slave  of  Ida  Rexford.  A  wild  passion  (Wil- 
fred was  incapable  of  feeling  real  love)  like 
a  consuming  fire,  burned  in  his  heart.  Eveline 
Grey  was  completely  forgotten. 

A  few  days  later  Wilfred  and  a  number  of 
other  first  class  men  obtained  permits  to  at- 
tend a  picnic.  All  the  party  got  in  boats  and 
off  they  went.  They  rowed  across  the  river 
under  the  bridge  and  landed  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Hudson. 

The  ladies  knew  the  cadets  had  no  way  of 
providing  refreshments,  and  they  themselves 
had  brought  a  plentiful  lunch,  and  while  they 
J22 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

arranged  it  the  cadets  wandered  off  by  them- 
selves. Wilfred  and  Frank  Lenox  devoted 
themselves  to  Ida.  Lenox's  attentions  to  her 
annoyed  Wilfred,  but  he  did  not  think  of  him 
as  a  possible  rival. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  of  July  exer- 
cises were  held  in  the  chapel,  in  the  evening 
there  was  a  display  of  fireworks  and  a  hop  in 
Grant  Hall,  which  was  beautifully  decorated. 

The  next  day  it  was  noticed  that  Miss  Rex- 
ford  was  wearing  Wilfred's  "spooney  button" 
on  her  bangle  bracelet. 

Ida  Rexford  was  the  belle  of  West  Point, 
and  had  no  end  of  beaux,  but  she  knew  the  at- 
tentions of  Wilfred  Lorimer  and  Frank  Lenox 
were  serious.  Deep  down  in  her  heart  she  liked 
Frank  Lenox;  but  she  knew  he  would  have 
nothing  but  his  pay  as  second  lieutenant,  while 
Wilfred  would  have  an  income  of  twelve  thou- 
sand dollars  a  year.  She  had  expensive  tastes, 
and  was  fond  of  luxury  and  ease,  and  she  de- 
termined to  marry  him.  But  Ida  Rexford  was 
a  born  coquette,  and  her  only  occupations  were 
to  dress,  flirt,  and  read  novels.  Sometimes 
she  bestowed  her  smiles  on  one  suitor,  and 
J23 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

then  on  the  other,  and  she  succeeded  in  making 
them  violently  jealous  of  each  other. 

With  the  gay  set  Ida  Rexford  was  the  belle, 
but  when  she  tried  to  flirt  with  Lyman  and 
some  of  the  others  she  found  herself  coldly  re- 
pelled. With  the  steadier  men  Eveline  Grey 
was  the  favorite.  Ida  felt  that  she  had  a  rival 
in  Eveline,  and  she  was  very  jealous. 

If  Eveline  Grey  had  ever  cared  for  Wilfred, 
and  felt  his  desertion,  she  was  too  proud  to 
let  any  one  know.  Now  that  Wilfred  was  de- 
voting himself  to  Ida,  Alfred  Lyman  felt  that 
the  field  was  clear,  and  he  became  very  atten- 
tive to  Miss  Grey. 

Mrs.  Rexford  saw  Wilfred's  attentions  to 
Ida  with  delight,  and  she  always  had  a  wel- 
come for  him,  while  she  frowned  on  Mr. 
Lenox. 

"Ida,"  she  said  sharply  one  day,  "why  are 
you  so  foolish  as  to  encourage  Frank  Lenox, 
when  you  must  know  Mr.  Lorimer  fairly  wor- 
ships you?  Mr.  Lenox  hasn't  a  penny,  while 
Mr.  Lorimer  will  have  twelve  thousand  a 
year." 


J24 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

"But  suppose  I  do  not  love  Mr.  Lorimer, 
mamma." 

"Love !  what  have  you  to  do  with  love,  Ida 
Rexford  ?  You  would  be  mad  to  refuse  such  an 
offer.  If  your  father  were  to  die  to-morrow 
you  wouldn't  have  a  penny." 

"Mamma,"  Ida  interrupted,  "Eveline  Grey 
had  on  a  lovely  dress  at  the  hop  last  night. 
White  tulle  over  pale  rose  silk.  I  want  one 
like  it,  only  with  light  blue." 

"But,  Ida,  how  am  I  to  get  it  ?  Your  dresses 
are  a  great  tax  on  your  father's  pay.  He 
scolded  terribly  about  your  last  one." 

"Eveline  Grey  shall  not  queen  it  over  me," 
Ida  answered  angrily.  "If  she  can  have  such 
a  dress  I  want  one." 

"But  your  father's  pay  is  only  two  thousand 
a  year,  Ida,  while  Colonel  Grey " 

"If  you  want  me  to  catch  Wilfred  Lorimer 
I  can  tell  you  he  is  mighty  particular  how  a 
lady  dresses." 

"I  am  afraid  to  ask  your  father  for  any 
more  money  just  now,"  her  mother  said,  hesi- 
tatingly. 

"I  want  a  white  tulle  dress  over  blue  silk. 
125 


The  Soldier's  kevenge. 

I  want  it,  and  I  must  have  it,"  Ida  answered 
sharply,  an  angry  frown  on  her  beautiful 
face. 

"Well,  I  suppose  I  can  manage  to  get  it 
somehow,"  her  mother  answered  meekly. 

Mrs.  Rexford  told  her  husband  that  she 
hoped  Ida  would  be  Wilfred  Lorimer's  wife. 

A  dark  frown  gathered  on  the  officer's  face. 

"I  don't  like  him,  Helen,"  he  said  decidedly. 
"Wilfred  Lorimer  has  a  violent  temper.  He  is 
a  perfect  fiend  in  a  passion,  and  he  is  of  a  very 
jealous  disposition.  As  his  wife,  Ida  would  be 
the  slave  of  a  jealous,  selfish  tyrant." 

"But  he  is  a  rich  man,  Vivian,  it  would  be 
folly  for  Ida  to  refuse  such  an  offer.  What 
would  she  do  if  you  were  to  die?" 

The  officers  declared  Mrs.  Rexford  was  do- 
ing all  in  her  power  to  catch  Lorimer  for  Ida, 
and  bets  were  made  as  to  whether  she  would 
succeed  in  landing  her  big  fish. 

Roland  Lorimer  had  a  short  leave  of  ab- 
sence the  last  of  August,  and  he  came  to  West 
Point.  He  arrived  at  the  hotel  just  before 
dinner.  There  was  a  light  battery  drill  that 
afternoon,  and  he  went  out  to  see  it. 
126 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

Out  on  the  plain  the  battery  stood  all  har- 
nessed and  ready.  The  cadets  were  marched 
out  and  assigned  to  different  guns.  Suddenly 
the  captain's  voice  rang  out  in  command,  and 
the  order  was  repeated  by  the  clear  notes  of  the 
bugle.  Down  the  level  plain  came  the  battery 
rushing  like  the  wind,  and  with  a  noise  as  of 
thunder.  There  were  six  guns  with  limbers  and 
caissons,  each  gun  and  caisson  drawn  by  six 
horses,  with  a  driver  to  every  pair  of  horses 
and  eight  cannoneers  to  each  gun.  The  horses 
galloped  and  the  drivers  lashed  them  into  a 
foam  of  fury  and  excitement.  There  was  a 
perfect  interval  between  each  gun,  and  in  the 
intervals  the  cadet  officers  of  the  platoons  and 
sections  galloped,  and  on  the  limber  chests  the 
cannoneers  sat  motionless  as  statues. 

The  guns  bumped  against  rocks,  and  leaped 
into  the  air,  yet  there  was  no  confusion,  and 
the  battery  preserved  an  exact  alignment. 

The  bugle  sounded  and  a  great  charge  en- 
sued. In  a  few  seconds  six  guns  were  in 
position,  with  limbers  and  horses  and  caissons 
in  the  rear.  The  cannoneers  stood  motionless 
awaiting  the  order  to  fire.  The  order  was 
\27 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

given,  sheets  of  fire  burst  from  the  great,  black 
mouths  of  the  cannons,  and  the  reports  fol- 
lowed in  such  rapid  succession  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  count  them. 

With  the  speed  of  lightning  did  the  cadets 
load  and  fire.  "Boom,  boom!"  echoed  back 
the  surrounding  hills ;  the  clouds  of  smoke  rose 
higher  and  higher  and  veiled  the  sunshine. 

The  whole  group  galloped  from  one  part  of 
the  plain  to  another,  now  in  column,  now  in 
line,  back  and  forth,  and  firing  to  the  right,  to 
the  left,  to  the  rear,  and  in  every  direction; 
sometimes  a  single  gun,  and  sometimes  the 
entire  battery  boomed  together  in  what  sounded 
like  a  single  report. 

With  brotherly  pride  Roland  watched  Wil- 
fred, the  finest  horseman  among  them  all, 
swinging  his  sabre  at  the  head  of  the  first  pla- 
toon. 

As  soon  as  the  drill  was  over,  Roland  went 
to  the  parade  ground,  and  secured  a  good  seat 
in  front.  There  was  a  great  crowd,  and  the 
brilliant  uniforms  of  the  officers  mingled  with 
the  gay  toilets  of  the  ladies. 

The  companies  formed  in  the  four  streets 
(28 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

of  the  camp,  and  the  cadet  officers  inspected  the 
arms  of  their  men.  Captain  Rexford,  in  full 
uniform,  took  his  position  near  them. 

The  assembly  sounded,  and,  at  the  sergeant's 
command,  the  companies  emerged  from  the 
streets  and  ranged  themselves  in  line.  As  the 
signal  ceased,  the  order  "Left,  face !"  rang  out, 
and  the  cadets  turned  sharply  in  their  places 
before  being  brought  to  support  arms,  by  or- 
ders of  the  first  sergeant.  The  cadet-adjutant 
lifted  his  hand,  and  the  bugles  sounded  the  ad- 
jutant's call,  the  adjutant  and  sergeant-major, 
with  their  markers,  marched  across  the  parade 
ground  and  took  up  their  positions,  the  former 
to  the  right,  the  latter  to  the  left;  each  com- 
pany was  led  forward  by  its  captain,  dressed 
in  line,  and  brought  to  support  arms.  The  ad- 
jutant ordered  the  captains  to  bring  their  com- 
panies to  parade  rest,  the  butt  of  each  gun  fell 
to  the  ground,  its  barrel  grasped  with  both 
hands  before  the  breast,  the  cadets  at  parade 
rest;  the  bugles  sounded  off,  the  drum-major 
led  his  gay  band  along  the  line,  from  right  to 
left  and  back  again,  playing  the  "Star  Spangled 
Banner,"  and  all  the  spectators  stood  up  while 
J29 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

it  was  being  played.  The  bugles  sounded  the 
retreat,  the  sunset  gun  boomed  forth  and  the 
stars  and  stripes  were  promptly  lowered. 

The  adjutant  stepped  forward.  He  ordered 
the  ranks  opened,  verified  the  alignment  of 
officers  and  men,  and  brought  the  cadets  to 
present  arms.  Clash!  went  the  rifles  into  the 
gloved  left  hands  as  the  battalion  presented 
arms  to  Captain  Rexford.  The  adjutant  sa- 
luted the  officer  with  his  sword  and  announced : 

"Sir,  the  parade  is  formed." 

"Take  your  post,  sir,"  ordered  Captain  Rex- 
ford.  The  adjutant  moved  to  his  place  behind 
him  and  at  his  left.  The  Captain  drew  his 
sword,  and  the  battalion  executed  the  manual 
of  arms  in  response  to  his  orders. 

The  guns  were  shifted  up  and  down,  to  the 
right,  to  the  left,  then  dropped  to  the  ground 
in  order  arms.  The  adjutant  once  more  ad- 
vanced. He  received  the  reports  from  the  first 
sergeants  and  drum-major,  who  stepped  for- 
ward, saluted,  made  their  reports,  and  then 
fell  back  into  position. 

The  adjutant  saluted  Captain  Rexford  and 
made  the  report: 

130 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

"Sir,  all  are  present  or  accounted  for." 

The  battalion  stood  motionless,  and  in  front 
of  each  company  stood  its  captain  with  drawn 
sword.  Roland  thought  he  had  never  seen 
Wilfred  look  so  handsome  as  he  did  then, 
in  his  shining  white  trousers,  gray  coat,  snow- 
white  belts,  shining  buckles  and  sword,  crim- 
son sash  and  gold  chevrons,  and  his  dress  hat 
adorned  with  the  tall  plumes  of  cock-feathers. 

The  adjutant  marched  to  the  middle  of  the 
plain  and  stood  facing  the  battalion.  He  took 
a  folded  paper  from  his  crimson  sash  and  read 
the  orders. 

The  order  "Parade  is  dismissed"  was  given, 
the  captains  sheathed  their  swords;  the  order 
to  march  was  given,  and  the  music  burst  forth. 
The  captains  marched  toward  the  center  of  the 
line,  then  forward.  They  halted  about  six 
yards  from  Captain  Rexford  and  saluted  him. 
For  an  instant  they  paused  with  their  hands 
raised  to  their  visors;  the  Captain  acknowl- 
edged the  salute.  At  the  same  moment  each 
cadet's  hand  fell  to  his  side. 

The    four    companies    marched    down    the 
streets,  the  captains  following  them. 
13* 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

They  all  ranged  themselves  in  line  at  the 
back  of  the  camp,  and  the  adjutant  read  the 
delinquency  list  for  the  last  twenty-four  hours 
from  the  "skin-book." 

Wilfred's  letters  to  his  brother  had  been  full 
of  Ida  and  of  his  hopes  of  winning  her  for  his 
wife.  At  the  hop  that  night  Roland  was  in- 
troduced to  Ida  and  also  to  Eveline  Grey. 

"Isn't  Ida  beautiful,  Roland?"  Wilfred 
asked,  eagerly,  as  soon  as  they  were  alone. 

"Vc.y  pretty,"  was  the  short  answer. 

"And  she  is  as  good  as  she  is  beautiful," 
continued  the  lover,  passionately. 

A  sarcastic  smile  curled  Roland's  lip,  but 
he  made  no  answer. 

It  did  not  take  Roland  Lorimer  very  long  to 
discover  Ida  Rexford's  real  character.  One 
day  he  and  his  brother  strolled  to  Gee's  Point 
and  sat  down  among  the  rocks. 

"Wilfred,  do  you  mean  to  marry  Ida  Rex- 
ford?"  asked  Roland. 

"She  is  dearer  than  life  to  me,  and  I  shall 
leave  no  stone  unturned  to  win  her." 

"Wilfred,  last  year  you  were  wild  over  Miss 
Grey,  now  you  seem  to  have  forgotten  her. 
132 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

I  think  she  is  a  noble  woman,  and  how  you 
can  leave  her  for  a  silly  flirt  like  Ida  Rexford, 
I  don't  know." 

Wilfred's  face  flushed  hotly  and  Roland  con- 
tinued gravely : 

"Wilfred,  as  your  brother,  having  only  your 
good  in  view,  I  must  say  Ida  will  not  make  you 
a  good  wife." 

"Yotir  own  disappointment  in  love  has  made 
you  a  woman  hater,"  said  Wilfred  angrily. 

"She  is  very  beautiful,  I  acknowledge,  well 
educated  and  lady-like,  but  Ida  Rexford  is  vain, 
selfish,  and  utterly  heartless " 

"You  shall  not  speak  so  of  her!"  inter- 
rupted Wilfred,  passionately. 

"Hear  me  through,  Wilfred,"  continued  his 
brother,  earnestly.  "God  knows  I  desire  only 
your  happiness,  but  I  cannot  help  feeling  that 
Ida  does  not  love  you,  it  is  your  money  she 
wants." 

"It  is  false !"  Wilfred  cried,  pale  with  anger. 
"Some  one  has  prejudiced  you  against  her." 

"No,  Wilfred,  but " 

"I  will  not  hear  you,  Roland.  Not  another 
word  against  Ida." 

133 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"God  help  you,  Wilfred,  you  are  not  the 
first  man  who  has  been  deceived  by  a  pretty 
face." 

Wilfred  sprang  to  his  feet  and  walked  an- 
grily away,  but  he  came  back  in  a  few  mo- 
ments. 

"Look  here,  Roland,  I  love  Ida  and  I  mean 
to  marry  her — that  is,  if  she  will  have  me,  and  I 
won't  stand  any  meddling  from  you.  Think 
what  you  like  of  her,  but  keep  your  opinions  to 
yourself." 

Roland  was  polite  and  courteous  to  Miss 
Rexford,  but  she  could  not  help  seeing  that  he 
did  not  like  her. 

One  evening,  the  last  week  of  the  encamp- 
ment, Wilfred  was  on  duty,  and  Ida  went  out 
lor  a  walk  with  Frank  Lenox.  They  walked 
along  "Flirtation  Walk,"  as  the  cadets  call  the 
Chain  Battery  walk,  and  sat  down  on  a  se- 
cluded seat.  • 

There  was  silence  for  a  few  moments,  then 
Frank  said  passionately: 

"Ida,  I  love  you,  oh,  how  dearly  I  love  you. 
Will  you  be  my  wife?" 


J34 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

She  started  and  trembled,  but  made  no  aii- 
ovver. 

"Darling,  you  could  not  have  helped  seeing 
that  I  love  you.  Tell  me  that  you  love  me  and 
that  you  will  be  my  wife." 

"I  cannot  be  your  wife,  Mr.  Lenox.  I  do 
not  love  you,"  she  said  in  a  low,  hesitating 
tone. 

"Ida,  you  do  love  me,  you  cannot  deny  it," 
he  cried  wildly.  "Oh,  darling,  dearest,  be  true 
to  yourself!" 

"What  do  you  mean,  Mr.  Lenox?"  she  asked 
haughtily. 

"You  love  me,  Ida  Rexford,  but  you  will 
marry  Wilfred  Lorimer  because  he  has  twelve 
thousand  dollars  a  year." 

"You  have  no  right  to  speak  to  me  in  that 
way,  Mr.  Lenox." 

"Oh,  Ida,  my  heart's  queen,  my  only  love,  be 
my  wife." 

"I  cannot  be  your  wife,"  she  said  in  icy 
tones.  "Let  us  end  this  conversation." 

"I  cannot  resign  you,  my  darling.  O  Ida! 
you  don't  know  how  madly  I  love  you.  Don't 


135 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

marry  a  man  who  will  make  you  wretched,  just 
because  he  has  a  little  money " 

"Mr.  Lenox,  I  will  not  listen  to  you,"  she 
said  haughtily,  and,  rising,  she  was  about  to 
walk  away. 

"You  shall  not  go,  you  shall  hear  me!"  he 
panted,  seizing  her  arm.  "Ida,  you  don't  know 
Wilfred  Lorimer;  he  has  a  terrible  temper, 
and  is  very  jealous.  I  know  he  would  lead 
you  a  dreadful  life.  Oh,  darling,  don't  marry 
him!" 

She  made  no  answer. 

"Ida,  you  shall  not  be  his  wife!"  he  cried, 
his  eyes  blazing  with  jealous  fire.  "I  shall  kill 
Wilfred  Lorimer  rather  than  have  you  marry 
him!" 

"You  forget  yourself,  Mr.  Lenox.  Let  go 
of  me !"  she  said  angrily. 

"You  think  you  are  sure  of  Wilfred  Lori- 
mer," he  said,  sharply,  "but  he  may  not  marry 
you  after  all.  He  is  as  fickle  as  the  wind,  and 
you  may  find  yourself  cast  aside  for  a  prettier 
face,  as  Eveline  Grey  was  thrown  over." 

Ida  grew  fairly  pale  with  anger,  and  she  tore 
her  arm  away. 

J36 


Belle  of  West  Point 

"How  dare  you  speak  so  to  me,  Mr.  Lenox?" 

There  is  no  knowing  what  Lenox  would 
have  answered,  for  just  then  Lieutenant  Brom- 
ley came  along.  Frank  saluted  him  and  then 
he  and  Ida  walked  along  in  utter  silence. 

"Ida,  forgive  my  hasty  words,"  Frank  said, 
brokenly.  "I  could  not  help  speaking  as  I  did, 
for,. oh,  darling,  I  do  love  you  so  much.  Say 
you  forgive  me  and  let  us  be  friends  again." 

She  made  no  answer. 

"Dearest,  say  you  forgive  me,"  he  pleaded, 
his  voice  trembling  with  emotion. 

"I  forgive  you,"  she  said  coldly.  "There  is 
mamma,"  she  added,  as  they  approached  a 
group  of  ladies  and  gentlemen. 

Frank  spoke  a  few  words  to  Mrs.  Rexford, 
then  lifted  his  cap  and  walked  quickly  away. 

When  Ida  went  to  her  room  that  night  she 
sat  for  a  long  time  thinking  over  Frank's  pro- 
posal. 

'You  think  you  are  sure  of  Wilfred  Lori- 
mer,  but  he  may  not  marry  you  after  all.  He 
is  as  fickle  as  the  wind,  and  you  may  find  your- 
self cast  aside  for  a  prettier  face,  as  Eveline 
Grey  was  thrown  over.'  " 
J37 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Those  words  rang  in  her  ears.  She  had 
heard  Wilfred  spoken  of  as  fickle,  and  she  knew 
he  had  been  very  attentive  to  Eveline.  She 
could  not  help  contrasting  Frank's  love  for  her 
with  Wilfred's  passion.  When  she  was  his 
wife  would  Wilfred  get  tired  of  her?  Would 
the  money  for  which  she  meant  to  sell  her  hap- 
piness be  spent  on  others  ? 

Her  brow  grew  black  at  the  thought.  "I 
mean  to  marry  Wilfred  Lorimer  for  his 
money,"  she  thought,  clinching  her  little  fist. 
"Let  him  dare  to  be  false  to  me." 

Ida  Rexford  loved  Frank  Lenox;  that  is, 
she  loved  him  as  much  as  she  could  love  any 
one  but  herself. 

"Oh,  what  shall  I  do?"  she  wailed.  "I  love 
Frank  so  dearly,  and  yet — yet — I  can't  be  a 
poor  man's  wife.  O  Frank,  Frank,  why  aren't 
you  rich?" 

Then  she  threw  herself  down  on  the  bed  and 
burst  into  passionate  tears. 

The  next  morning  Wilfred  and  Ida  went  out 
for  a  walk.  They  walked  along  the  Chain  Ea- 
tery walk  until  they  came  to  Kosciusko's  Gar- 
den. They  went  down  the  stone  steps  and  sat 
J38 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

down.  There  was  silence  for  a  few  moments, 
then  Wilfred  took  Ida's  hand,  and,  in  burning, 
passionate  words,  he  poured  forth  his  love  and 
asked  her  to  marry  him. 

"I  love  you,  Wilfred,"  she  said  in  a  low  tone. 
"I  will  be  your  wife,  and  try  to  make  your  life 
happy." 

He  clasped  her  in  his  arms  and  kissed  her. 

"But,  Ida,  is  your  love  all  mine  ?  You  must 
know  Frank  Lenox  is  my  rival.  I  love  you  pas- 
sionately, dearest ;  you  are  all  in  all  to  me,  and 
I  must  have  all  your  love.  I  cannot  be  satisfied 
with  less." 

"I  love  no  one  but  you,  Wilfred." 

"Ida,  would  you  marry  me  if  I  had  nothing 
but  my  pay?"  he  asked,  gazing  at  her  keenly. 

She  felt  her  face  grow  crimson,  but  her  lips 
uttered  a  deliberate  falsehood. 

"Oh,  Wilfred,  how  can  you  doubt  me?"  she 
asked  reproachfully.  "I  would  marry  you  if 
you  hadn't  a  penny." 

"Forgive  me,  Ida,"  he  said  gently.  "I  do 
not  doubt  you." 

There  was  a  pause,  then  he  continued : 

"Are  you  willing  to  marry  me  as  soon  as  I 
J39 


The  Soldier's  Revenge.  J 

graduate  ?  We  could  be  married  at  the  Church 
of  the  Holy  Innocents,  and  then  go  to  Europe 
during  my  leave." 

"It  shall  be  as  you  wish,  Wilfred." 

"I  must  be  all  in  all  to  you  when  we  are  mar- 
ried," he  continued.  "I  shall  be  jealous  of 
every  smile,  every  look.  Ida,  I  cannot  answer 
for  myself  if  you  should  rouse  the  demon  of 
jealousy  in  me  then." 

Wilfred  sought  his  brother  and  informed 
him  of  his  betrothal. 

"I  asked  Ida  if  she  would  marry  me  if  I  had 
nothing  but  my  pay,  and  she  told  me  she  would 
marry  me  if  I  hadn't  a  penny." 

A  look  of  utter  disgust  came  over  Roland's 
face. 

"I  am  of  age  on  New  Year's  day,"  Wilfred 
continued,  "and  I  shall  marry  Ida  as  soon  as  I 
graduate." 

"Women  are  all  alike,"  Roland  thought  in 
angry  despair.  "Mabelle  sold  herself  for  a 
title,  and  Ida  Rexford  will  marry  my  brother 
for  his  twelve  thousand  a  year,  while  her  heart 
belongs  to  Frank  Lenox.  Oh,  Wilfred,  Wil- 


J40 


Belle  of  West  Point. 

fred,  God  grant  your  eyes  may  be  opened  to 
Ida's  true  character  before  it  is  too  late." 

Wilfred  told  his  tent-mate  of  his  betrothal. 

"Congratulate  me,  Lyman,"  he  said  joy- 
ously, "for  I  am  the  happiest  man  in  the  world 
to-day." 

Alfred  Ly man's  face  grew  very  grave. 

"I  cannot  congratulate  you,  Lorimer.  I  am 
afraid  you  and  Miss  Rexford  are  not  suited 
to  each  other,  and  you  know  I  think  she  is  a 
heartless  flirt " 

"You  have  said  enough,  Mr.  Lyman,"  Wil- 
fred interrupted,  angrily. 

When  Frank  Lenox  heard  of  Wilfred's  en- 
gagement his  brow  grew  dark  as  night,  and  his 
eyes  blazed  with  jealous  fire. 

"He  cannot  love  her  as  I  do;  he  shall  not 
marry  her,  he  shall  not.  I  swear  Ida  Rexford 
shall  be  my  wife  and  not  Wilfred  Lorimer's." 

When  the  engagement  was  announced  some 
of  the  cadets  declared  "Lorimer  must  be  blind 
not  to  see  Miss  Rexford  didn't  care  a  brass 
farthing  for  him,  but  wanted  his  money." 

When  Wilfred  went  to  Captain  Rexford  and 

/  J4J 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

asked  for  his  daughter,  the  officer  gave  a  re- 
luctant consent. 

That  fall  Roland  Lorimer  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  placed  on  duty  on 
the  man-of-war  "Excelsior." 


J42 


The  Lovers'  Quarrel. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  LOVERS'  QUARREL  AND  THE  WOUNDING  OF 
FRANK  LENOX. 

"Love  and  a  crown  no  rivalship  can  bear. 
Love,  love!     Thou  sternly  dost  thy  power  maintain, 
And  wilt  not  bear  a  rival  in  thy  reign." 

— Dryden. 

"And  I  saw  the  steel  of  murder  glitter 
And  the  eye  of  murder  glow !" 

THE  cadets  returned  to  the  barracks  and 
Lorimer  and  Lyman  were  room-mates. 

Although  Ida  was  Wilfred's  fiancee,  she  did 
not  leave  off  flirting,  and  she  drove  him  nearly 
wild  with  jealousy. 

The  seniors  often  take  tea  with  the  officers' 
families  on  Saturday  evenings,  and  since  his  be- 
trothal Wilfred  had  tea  with  the  Rexfords 
nearly  every  week. 

One  evening  Mrs.  Rexford  had  an  unusually 
dainty  meal,  but  Wilfred  was  gloomy  and 
J43 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

silent,  and  scarcely  tasted  anything.     Ida  and 
her  lover  went  into  the  parlor. 

"Wilfred,  why  are  you  so  silent  to-night?" 
she  asked.  "Has  anything  gone  wrong?" 

Wilfred  burst  out  in  jealous  anger  and  re- 
proached her  for  flirting.  Ida  had  a  good  deal 
of  temper,  and  her  cheeks  flushed  with  anger. 

"If  you  doubt  me  it  is  better  for  us  to  part," 
she  said  haughtily. 

"I  do  not  doubt  you,  darling,  but  I  love  you 
so  much,  and  it  is  more  than  I  can  bear  to  see 
you  receiving,  and  indeed  encouraging,  the 
attentions  of  others.  If  you  love  me,  Ida, 
then  why  do  you  torment  me  so?"  he  asked 
angrily. 

"I  will  be  no  man's  slave,"  she  said  passion- 
ately. "And  if  you  are  going  to  be  a  jealous 
tyrant,  Mr.  Lorimer,  it  is  better  for  us  to 
part." 

One  morning,  in  the  beginning  of  Novem- 
ber, Wilfred  met  with  a  serious  accident  in  the 
riding-hall.  The  exercises  for  the  first  class 
are  from  eleven  o'clock  to  one.  The  cadets 
have  the  right  to  choose  their  own  horses,  and 
Wilfred  selected  a  very  spirited  animal.  As 
144 


The  Lovers'  Quarrel. 

the  horse  started  out  he  stumbled  and  fell, 
crushing  his  rider  under  him.  The  dragoons 
helped  the  horse  to  his  feet,  but  Wilfred  lay 
white  and  still.  A  stretcher  was  brought,  and 
he  was  taken  to  the  hospital. 

The  officers  had  given  a  dance  the  night  be- 
fore, and  Ida  had  attended  it,  so  it  was  very 
late  when  she  rose  that  morning.  She  put  on 
a  gown  of  turquoise  blue  cashmere,  with  a  vest 
of  pale  rose-colored  silk,  and  a  deep  collar  of 
dark  blue  velvet  trimmed  with  cream-colored 
lace. 

{ 

"Oh,  dear,"  she  sighed,  as  she  arranged  her 
long  beautiful  hair,  "I  wish  I  had  a  maid.  I 
mean  to  when  I  am  Mrs.  Lorimer." 

Ida  Rexford  was  very  self-indulgent,  and 
she  did  not  care  how  much  trouble  she  gave 
any  one.  She  asked  her  mamma  to  send  her 
breakfast  up  to  her.  Marianne,  the  Irish  serv- 
ant, arranged  the  dainty  meal  on  a  tray,  but 
all  the  way  upstairs  she  grumbled  about  Miss 
Ida's  laziness. 

When  she  had  finished  her  breakfast  Ida 
went  down  into  the  parlor.  She  curled  herself 


145 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

up  on  a  sofa  and  began  to  read  a  sensational 
novel. 

In  a  few  moments  Emma  Bromley  entered 
the  room. 

"Oh,  Ida,  there  was  a  dreadful  accident  in 
the  riding-hall,"  she  cried  breathlessly. 

"Who  was  hurt?"  Ida  asked,  languidly, 
and  helping  herself  to  another  bon-bon. 

"Mr.  Lorimer's  horse  stumbled  and  fell,  he 
was  crushed  under  the  animal  and " 

"He  wasn't  killed?  Oh,  tell  me  he  wasn't 
killed!"  Ida  cried  wildly.  She  rushed  in 
search  of  her  mother  and  would  not  be  satis- 
fied until  Mrs.  Rexford  went  out  to  learn  all 
she  could  about  the  accident. 

In  a  short  time  Mrs.  Rexford  returned  and 
told  her  half-frantic  daughter  that,  while  Wil- 
fred was  pretty  seriously  hurt,  there  was  no 
real  danger. 

Now  that  she  knew  her  lover  was  in  no 
danger,  Ida  did  not  seem  to  care.  Mrs.  Brom- 
ley gave  a  dance  that  night,  and,  in  an  exquisite 
toilette  of  cream  nun's  veiling  and  lace,  Ida 
amused  herself  by  flirting  with  the  handsome 
Lieutenant  Everly. 


The  Lovers'  Quarrel. 

When  Frank  Lenox  saw  Wilfred  taken  out 
on  a  stretcher  his  heart  gave  a  great  bound. 

"He  won't  get  out  of  the  hospital  in  a 
hurry,"  he  thought  in  triumph.  "  'All's  fair  in 
love  and  war,'  and  now  I  swear  Ida  Rexford 
shall  be  mine." 

And  from  that  day  Frank  Lenox  devoted 
himself  to  Ida.  He  visited  her  frequently,  and 
she  danced  with  him  at  the  hops  on  Saturday 
nights.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  fas- 
cinate her,  vowing  he  would  leave  no  stone  un- 
turned to  get  her  to  break  her  engagement  with 
Wilfred  and  marry  him. 

The  ladies  at  the  post  declared  it  was  scan- 
dalous the  way  Ida  Rexford  went  on  with  Mr. 
Lenox  while  her  betrothed  husband  was  lying 
helpless  in  the  hospital. 

Wilfred  suffered  a  good  deal,  and  he  was 
not  a  person  to  bear  pain  patiently.  He  was 
fretful  and  irritable,  and  often  lay  picturing  to 
himself  Ida  flirting  with  others,  and  was  tor- 
tured with  jealousy. 

The  day  after  Thanksgiving  Mrs.  Rexford 
and  Ida  visited  Wilfred,  and  his  fiancee  brought 
some  beautiful  hothouse  flowers,  whose  fra- 
H7 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

grance  filled  the  room.  Ida  talked  about  the 
Thanksgiving  hop  and  Mr.  Lenox's  name  was 
casually  mentioned. 

An  angry  scowl  gathered  on  her  lover's 
brow.  "Ida,  don't  flirt  with  Lenox,"  he 
pleaded. 

"Wilfred,  do  you  doubt  my  love  for  you?" 
she  asked,  in  her  softest  voice,  and  gazing  at 
him  with  a  bright  smile.  "You  need  have  no 
fear." 

But  when  they  left  him  Wilfred's  face  grew 
dark  as  night. 

"Curse  Frank  Lenox,"  he  thought  in  jealous 
fury.  "If  I  thought  Ida  really  cared  for  him 
and  is  marrying  me  for  money,  I  should  kill 
them." 

It  was  the  first  of  December  when  Wilfred 
left  the  hospital.  The  graduating  class  was  be- 
ginning to  discuss  what  they  would  adopt  as 
their  class  ring.  Jewelers  from  different  cities 
sent  samples,  and  after  much  discussion  a  de- 
sign was  chosen,  and  early  in  January  every 
cadet  was  wearing  his  class  ring. 

Wilfred  heard  rumors  of  Ida's   flirtations 


J48 


The  Lovers'  Quarrel. 

with  Frank  Lenox,  and  on  Saturday  afternoon 
he  spoke  very  angrily  to  her. 

"Ida,  if  I  thought  you  really  loved  Lenox 
and  are  only  going  to  marry  me  because  I  wLl 
have  twelve  thousand  a  year,  I  cannot  answer 
for  what  I  should  do." 

Ida's  heart  thrilled  with  fear,  for  never  had 
she  seen  her  lover  in  such  a  mood. 

"You  say  you  love  me,  Ida,  and  yet  while 
I  was  in  the  hospital,  racked  with  pain,  you 
amused  yourself  by  flirting  recklessly  with 
Frank  Lenox,"  he  said  passionately. 

Then  he  grasped  her  hand  and  his  eyes 
seemed  to  pierce  her  through  and  through. 
"Beware,  Ida  Rexford,  it  will  be  a  dangerous 
thing  for  you  to  try  me  much  more." 

"Oh,  Wilfred,  don't  talk  so,"  she  pleaded. 
"And  you  look  so  wild,  you  frighten  me." 

"Ida,  look  at  me,"  he  commanded,  "tell  me 
truly,  do  you  love  me?" 

"Oh,  Wilfred,  you  know  I  love  you,  only 
you,"  she  said,  uttering  a  deliberate  falsehood. 
"You  do  not  love  me  or  you  would  not  doubt 
me,  you  would  not  talk  so,"  and  the  tears  filled 
her  eyes. 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"Not  love  you!"  he  echoed  passionately. 
"Oh,  Ida,  my  love  is  a  consuming  fire,  and  you 
are  the  one  that  feeds  it."  He  put  his  arm 
around  her  and  drew  her  closely  to  him.  "Tell 
me  again,  dearest,  that  you  love  me." 

"I  love  you,  Wilfred,"  she  answered,  raising 
her  eyes  to  his.  "How  can  you  doubt  me?" 

Ida  exerted  herself  to  the  utmost,  but  she 
could  not  drive  away  the  gloomy  look  on  her 
lover's  brow. 

"You  are  not  going  yet,  Wilfred,"  she  said, 
as  he  rose  abruptly.  "Do  stay  to  tea." 

"Not  to-night,"  he  said  coldly,  and  he  left 
the  house. 

Wilfred's  heart  was  torn  with  conflicting 
emotions.  One  moment  he  felt  that  he  could 
not  live  without  Ida,  and  then  in  frantic  jeal- 
ousy he  actually  hated  her.  When  with  her, 
sometimes  he  was  gloomy  and  silent ;  at  other 
times  he  was  the  devoted  lover. 

Ida  was  worried  and  anxious,  and  afraid  of 
losing  her  rich  lover,  and  she  did  all  in  her 
power  to  please  him. 

Those  cadets  who  have  few  demerits  are 
granted  a  three  days'  leave  at  Christmas.  But 
J50 


The  Lovers'  Quarrel. 

in  a  week  comes  the  dreaded  and  severe  mid- 
year examinations,  and  who  has  a  heart  for 
rollicking  when  to  be  "found,"  as  a  failure  is 
called,  means  the  loss  of  a  commission.  Many 
of  the  cadets  who  are  entitled  to  the  leave  often 
refuse  to  take  it,  preferring  to  remain  at  the 
Academy  and  study. 

Wilfred  was  entitled  to  the  leave  but  de- 
clined to  take  it.  He  had  studied  very  hard, 
and,  in  spite  of  all  the  time  lost  while  in  the 
hospital,  he  passed  the  examination  success- 
fully, and  stood  at  the  head  of  the  graduating 
class. 

A  few  days  later  a  day's  leave  of  absence 
was  granted  Wilfred,  on  account  of  urgent 
personal  business.  Colonel  Lorimer's  estate 
was  to  be  settled  up,  as  Wilfred  was  now  of 
age,  and  his  presence  was  necessary  in  Wash- 
ington. 

The  day  after  his  return  to  the  Academy, 
during  the  period  of  recreation  after  dinner, 
Wilfred  went  out  for  a  walk.  A  few  steps 
from  the  barracks  he  saw  a  piece  of  paper, 
covered  with  writing,  lying  on  the  ground.  He 
picked  it  up  and  carelessly  glanced  over  it. 
J5J 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

He  grew  white  as  marble,  his  very  lips  were 
white  and  rigidly  compressed,  and  on  his  face 
was  an  expression  of  agony  and  despair  awful 
to  see,  while  his  eyes  blazed  like  coals  of  fire. 
The  paper  was  a  tender  little  note  from  Ida  to 
Frank.  She  called  him  by  his  Christian  name 
and  signed  herself  "Ida." 

Almost  unconscious  of  what  he  was  doing, 
Wilfred  hurried  to  the  residence  of  Captain 
Rexford,  although  it  was  off  limits,  and  he  had 
no  right  to  go  without  the  written  permission 
of  General  Blank.  When  the  servant  opened 
the  door  he  demanded  in  a  sharp,  imperative 
tone  to  see  Miss  Rexford,  and  he  was  shown 
into  the  parlor. 

The  moment  Ida  entered  the  room  Wilfred 
thrust  the  note  into  her  hand. 

"Did    you    write    that?"      he    demanded 
hoarsely. 

"How  did  it  fall  into  your  hands?"  she 
asked,  turning  deadly  pale. 

"I  found  it  on  the  ground  near  the  barracks, 

and  Mr.  Lenox  must  have  dropped  it.     Our 

engagement  is  at  an  end,  Miss  Rexford.     I 

see  it  all  now.     Your  heart  is  given  to  Frank 

J52 


The  Lovers'  Quarrel, 

Lenox,  while  you  would  have  married  me  for 
my  money.  Oh,  fool  that  I  was  to  be  deceived 
by  your  pretty  face !" 

He  paused  for  a  moment,  then  continued 
passionately :  "Although  our  engagement  is  at 
an  end  you  shall  never  marry  Frank  Lenox, 
never." 

"How  dare  you  speak  to  me  so,  Mr.  Lori- 
mer!"  she  cried  angrily. 

"You  shall  never  be  the  wife  of  Frank 
Lenox,"  Wilfred  repeated,  in  a  low  tone. 

"Who  will  prevent  it?"  she  asked  coldly. 

"I  will!"  with  terrible  emphasis  on  the 
words. 

"Will  you?"  she  echoed,  a  mocking  smile 
curling  her  lip 

Wilfred  seized  her  handc  with  a  grip  like  a 
vise. 

"Let  go  of  me,  Mr.  Lorimer,"  she  said  an- 
grily, struggling  to  pull  her  hands  away. 

"You  shall  never  be  the  wife  of  Frank 
Lenox,"  he  repeated,  the  words  coming  in 
gasps  from  his  white  lips. 

"How    will    you    prevent    it?"     she    asked 
lightly.     "Do  you  mean  to  kill  me?" 
J53 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Wilfred  bent  over  ner  until  his  hot  breath 
fanned  her  cheeks,  then,  in  a  voice  like  the 
hissing  of  a  serpent,  he  said : 

"I  shall  not  kill  you,  it  would  be  too  much 
happiness  for  you  to  die.  But  I  shall  kill  your 
lover,  and  you  shall  suffer  through  your  love 
for  Frank  Lenox  all  that  I  have  suffered 
through  my  love  for  you." 

A  cry  of  terror  broke  from  Ida's  lips  and  she 
struggled  desperately  to  break  from  him. 

"Frank  Lenox  dies  by  my  hand,"  Wilfred 
said  in  a  low,  terrible  tone.  Then  he  hurled 
Ida  violently  from  him  and  left  the  house. 

Frank  Lenox  was  in  his  room  with  Cadet 
Maurice  Elwood  and  a  first  class  man,  Justin 
Brantley.  A  few  moments  before  the  call  to 
quarters,  the  door  was  thrown  open  and  Wil- 
fred Lorimer  entered.  He  held  a  bayonet  in 
his  hand,  and,  before  any  one  could  stop  him, 
he  sprang  on  Lenox  and  plunged  the  weapon  in 
his  breast,  then  instantly  withdrew  it  and  in- 
flicted a  deep  stab  in  the  left  side.  Lenox  gave 
a  groan  and  fell  to  the  floor. 

For  a  moment  Elwood  and  Brantley  were 
spellbound  with  horror.  Then  they  threw  them- 
154 


The  Lovers'  Quarrel. 

selves  on  Wilfred  and  wrenched  the  blood- 
stained weapon  from  his  hand. 

The  cadets  rushed  from  their  quarters,  and 
Lyman  was  the  first  one  to  reach  the  room. 

"Wilfred!"    burst  from  his  lips  in  horror. 

Frank  Lenox  lay  on  the  floor,  insensible,  and 
bleeding  from  the  wotmds,  and  Elwood  and 
Brantley  were  bending  over  him. 

With  his  arms  folded,  white  as  a  marble 
image,  his  eyes  sparkling  like  those  of  an  en- 
raged serpent  with  jealousy  and  hate,  Wilfred 
Lorimer  stood  gazing  at  his  wounded  class- 
mate. 

The  cadets  crowded  around  Lenox. 

"Wilfred  Lorimer,  you  have  killed  him," 
said  Elwood. 

An  expression  of  fiendish  glee  swept  over 
Wilfred's  face.  "I  hope  I  have  killed  him.  I 
certainly  meant  to,  anyhow,"  he  said  coolly. 

The  sergeant  of  the  guard  came  racing  to 
the  scene,  followed  by  the  cadet  officer  of  the 
day,  and  a  moment  later  the  officer  in  charge, 
Lieutenant  Everly,  entered  the  room. 

"Back  to  your  quarters,  all  of  you,"  he  or- 


J55 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

dered,  to  the  rapidly  increasing  crowd.  "Go 
for  Dr.  Emlen,"  he  said  to  Alfred. 

Wilfred,  apparently  unconscious  of  every- 
thing going  on  around  him,  stood  gazing  at 
his  foe. 

"Mr.  Lorimer,  go  to  your  quarters  in  close 
arrest,"  the  officer  said  sternly. 

Wilfred  started  at  the  sound  of  his  name,  and 
turned  to  the  Lieutenant,  but  he  made  no  move- 
ment to  obey  the  command. 

"Mr.  Lorimer,  you  heard  my  order.  Go  to 
your  quarters  in  close  arrest,"  Lieutenant 
Everly  repeated  sharply. 

With  a  parting  glance  at  his  murdered  rival, 
a  glance  of  such  awful  hatred  that  those  around 
him  shuddered,  Wilfred  left  the  room. 


Wilfred's  Flight. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

WHICH     TELLS     OF     WILFRED'S     FLIGHT     AND 
OTHER   THINGS. 

THE  news  that  Wilfred  Lorimer  had  wound- 
ed Frank  Lenox  spread  through  the  post  like 
wildfire,  and  Ida  Rexford  was  like  one  bereft 
of  her  reason. 

The  stabs  that  Wilfred  inflicted  were  very 
deep,  the  wounds  became  inflamed,  and  Lenox 
was  soon  in  a  high  fever.  Dr.  Emlen  had  very 
little,  if  any,  hope  of  his  recovery.  His  father 
was  the  Commandant  of  the  Brooklyn  Navy 
Yard.  General  Blank  telegraphed  to  him,  and 
Mrs.  Lenox  was  soon  at  the  bedside  of  her  dy- 
ing son. 

Wilfred  Lorimer  was  in  close  arrest,  await- 
ing the  result  of  his  rival's  injuries.  If  Lenox 
died  Wilfred  would  be  turned  over  to  the  civil 
authorities  and  tried  for  murder,  or,  if  he  re- 
J57 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

covered,  tried  by  court-martial  and  dismissed 
from  the  Academy. 

Wilfred  could  not  exercise  command  as  first 
captain.  He  took  all  his  rieals  at  Grant  Hall 
with  the  battalion,  but  had  to  march  to  and 
from  the  hall  in  the  rear  of  Company  A.  He 
was  obliged  to  attend  all  recitations,  and  the 
cavalry  exercises  in  the  riding-hall  as  private 
trooper. 

The  cadets  knew  that  there  had  been  a  quar- 
rel between  Wilfred  and  Ida,  but  not  the  actual 
cause  of  it.  They  declared  he  was  justified  in 
feeling  vexed  with  her,  but  Lenox  was  the 
most  popular  man  in  the  corps,  and  great  was 
the  grief  and  indignation  at  his  murder. 

Wilfred  was  filled  with  anger  against  Ida 
and  bitter  hatred  to  Lenox.  He  was  gloomy 
and  silent,  and  took  no  notice  of  the  anger  and 
indignation  the  whole  corps  showed  to  him; 
but  the  officers  feared  the  cadets  might  do  him 
personal  injury,  and  he  was  given  a  room  in  the 
officers'  angle  of  the  barracks. 

A  week  passed,  and  then  it  was  whispered 
around  that  Frank  Lenox  would  not  live  the 
night  out.  Wilfred  did  not  relish  the  idea  of 

158 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

a  long  term  of  imprisonment  for  murder,  and 
he  determined  to  escape.  About  midnight  he 
quietly  stole  from  the  barracks  and  went  to  the 
railway  station,  where  he  took  a  train  for  New 
York. 

On  arriving  in  the  city,  he  went  to  a  small 
down-town  hotel.  He  decided  to  go  to  France, 
and  his  first  act  was  to  go  to  a  bank  where  he 
had  a  large  sum  awaiting  investment.  He  drew 
a  small  sum  and  secured  a  letter  of  credit  on  a 
Parisian  bank,  then  he  engaged  a  second-class 
passage  in  the  name  of  Gerald  Lascelles  on 
one  of  the  transatlantic  steamers. 

It  was  Thursday,  and  the  vessel  would  not 
sail  until  Saturday  at  ten  o'clock.  On  Sat- 
urday morning  Wilfred  saw  the  notice  of  Frank 
Lenox's  death  and  his  own  flight  from  the 
Academy  in  the  "Times." 

"Ida  Rexford  will  not  marry  Frank  Lenox 
now,"  he  thought,  a -smile  of  mingled  hatred 
and  triumph  playing  about  his  lips.  "I  do  not 
regret  what  I  have  done,  and  I  hope  she  will 
suffer  as  she  made  me  suffer." 

On  Thursday  morning,  Wilfred's  flight  was 
J59 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

discovered  and  caused  great  excitement.  Frank 
Lenox  died  that  night.  His  death  was  an- 
nounced at  parade  the  next  evening,  and  the 
cadets  were  ordered  to  wear  a  band  of  crape 
on  the  left  arm  for  thirty  days,  and  the  bat- 
talion flag  was  draped  in  mourning. 

When  Ida  Rexford  heard  of  Frank's  death 
she  became  violently  hysterical,  and  Dr.  Emlen 
was  quickly  summoned.  A  violent  attack  of 
nervous  fever  followed.  "Oh,  Frank,  Frank, 
my  heart's  beloved,  my  deepest  curse  on  your 
murderer!"  she  cried  wildly  in  her  delirium. 
"I  swear  Wilfred  Lorimer  shall  be  brought  to 
justice." 

Frank's  body  lay  in  state  in  the  Academy 
building,  surrounded  by  a  cadet-guard  of 
honor,  chosen  from  his  classmates.  In  the  af- 
ternoon on  the  third  day  from  his  death  the 
body  was  removed  to  the  chapel  and  the  funeral 
service  was  held. 

After  the  service  eight  classmates  carried  the 
coffin  to  an  artillery  caisson,  on  which  it  was 
fastened,  with  the  stars  and  stripes  wrapped 
around  it.  The  caisson  was  drawn  by  eight 
black  horses,  and  was  draped  with  flags,  and 

160 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

in  front  went  the  band,  playing  a  dead  march, 
and  behind  followed  the  whole  corps  of  cadets 
with  arms  reversed,  and  with  slow  and  solemn 
steps.  They  marched  to  the  beautiful  little 
cadet  cemetery.  Upon  reaching  the  grave,  a 
line  was  formed  facing  it,  arms  were  presented, 
and  the  band  played  a  solemn  air,  and  the  body 
was  lowered.  The  cadets  stood  with  bowed 
heads  at  rest  on  arms,  while  the  Chaplain  con- 
ducted the  service  at  the  grave.  The  corps 
then  fired  three  rounds  of  blank  cartridges,  and 
returned  to  the  barracks.  After  leaving  the 
cemetery  the  corps  came  to  "right  shoulder" 
arms,  and  marched  to  a  quick-step. 

Captain  Reynold  Belford,  the  Commander  of 
the  "Excelsior,"  was  a  middle-aged  man,  with 
a  very  sharp,  disagreeable  manner.  Neither 
officers  nor  crew  liked  him,  but  he  was  a  rigid 
disciplinarian,  and  every  one  on  the  ship  had 
"to  toe  the  mark." 

The  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  was  long  and 
very  stormy.  The  ship  touched  at  Cadiz,  Gib- 
raltar and  Algiers.  At  the  last  place  Mrs. 
Charles  Marshall,  a  wealthy  American  lady, 
J6J 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

gave  a  dance  in  honor  of  the  officers,  at  her 
beautiful  villa  just  outside  of  the  city. 

The  Prince  and  Princess  von  Radowitz  were 
spending  the  winter  at  Algiers,  and  they  were 
among  the  guests.  Lieutenant  Lorimer  was 
standing  near  the  door  of  the  ball-room  when 
a  lady  and  gentleman  entered.  He  started  vio- 
lently as  he  recognized  them.  Mabelle  turned 
pale  as  death.  The  Prince's  face  darkened,  and 
not  a  sign  of  recognition  passed  between  the 
two  men. 

The  sight  of  Mabelle  was  a  terrible  shock 
to  Roland;  it  completely  upset  him,  and  all  the 
pleasure  of  the  ball  was  gone.  He  could 
scarcely  keep  his  eyes  off  of  her.  How  beau- 
tiful she  looked  in  her  robe  of  chine  silk  on  a 
salmon-pink  ground!  The  low  bodice  of  rich 
green  velvet  had  a  yoke  of  white  satin  covered 
with  white  net,  glittering  with  silver  paillettes. 
The  white  satin  belt  was  garnished  on  the  left 
side  with  a  shaded  chrysanthemum.  She  wore 
magnificent  diamonds  on  her  arms  and  neck 
and  in  her  hair. 

Among  the  gentlemen  present  was  a  French 
officer,  Colonel  de  Vaurineux.  Roland  saw 
(62 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

that  he  tried  to  force  his  attentions  on  the 
Princess,  but  was  haughtily  repelled. 

Roland  danced  with  Miss  Marshall  and  then 
led  her  to  a  seat.  Mabelle  happened  to  be 
seated  near  by,  with  Captain  Bel  ford.  The 
Frenchman  came  up  and  asked  her  to  dance 
with  him. 

"I  am  engaged  to  Captain  Belford,"  she  an- 
swered, and  Roland  could  not  help  noticing 
how  cold  and  repellant  her  tone  was,  and  that 
a  frown  darkened  the  Frenchman's  face,  al- 
though he  bowed  and  went  away. 

Roland  thought  he  had  forgotten  Mabelle, 
but  the  sight  of  that  beautiful  face  proved  that 
his  love  was  not  dead.  She  was  as  dear  to  him 
as  ever,  even  though  she  had  treated  him  so 
shamefully.  The  sound  of  her  voice  made  his 
heart  throb  in  passionate  agony ;  drops  of  cold 
sweat  stood  on  his  forehead,  and  his  right  hand 
was  clinched  so  fiercely  that  his  glove  was  torn. 

Supper  was  announced,  and  Roland  took  in 
Miss  Marshall.  The  Prince  von  Radowitz  was 
seated  near  them,  and  Roland  could  not  help 
noticing  that  he  had  grown  stouter  and  more 
florid  since  he  had  seen  him  in  Washington. 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

The  Prince  freely  indulged  in  all  the  dainty 
viands  and  rich  wines. 

"If  there  is  anything  in  the  world  I  hate,  it 
is  a  gourmand,"  the  young  officer  thought. 
He  gazed  at  the  bloated,  sensual  face. 

"How  could  Mabelle  sell  herself  to  such  a 
man  for  a  title !"  and  his  lip  curled  in  mingled 
scorn  and  disgust. 

Roland  could  not  forget  Mabelle,  and  he  lay 
tossing  in  his  berth,  unable  to  close  his  eyes. 

"It  shall  not  be,"  he  thought  fiercely.  "She 
is  unworthy  of  a  single  thought.  I  will  tear 
her  false  image  from  my  heart." 

Several  days  after  the  ball  the  officers  gave 
a  reception.  It  was  a  pretty  scene  on  board  the 
"Excelsior."  The  low-roofed  gun-deck  was 
lighted  as  brilliantly  as  possible,  and  decorated 
with  flags,  greens,  crossed  swords,  and  trophies 
from  all  nations,  which  the  officers  had  brought 
out  from  their  lockers  for  the  occasion.  The 
captain's  cabin,  the  ward  room,  and  the  steer- 
age were  all  thrown  open  for  the  inspection  of 
curious  guests. 

The  Princess  von  Radowitz,  in  a  toilette  of 
palest  blue  satin,  embroidered  with  pearls  and 
J64 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

gold,  and  magnificent  pearl  and  diamond  orna- 
ments, was  the  belle  of  the  evening.  The  gen- 
tlemen crowded  round  her  and  eagerly  sought 
her  hand  for  every  dance. 

Colonel  de  Vaurineux  was  present,  and  he 
constantly  hovered  near  Mabelle,  but  Roland 
could  see  that  she  was  greatly  annoyed. 

Roland  danced  with  Madame  la  Tremoille, 
a  beautiful  Frenchwoman,  and  then  took  her  in 
to  supper.  They  passed  Mabelle,  with  Captain 
Belford.  Although  he  still  loved  her,  Roland 
was  too  proud  to  let  her  think  he  felt  her  be- 
havior towards  him  in  the  least.  His  lip  curled 
and  his  face  expressed  utter  scorn  and  con- 
tempt. Her  glance  was  as  cold  and  scornful  as 
his  own. 

The  last  guest  had  left  and  several  officers 
were  on  deck  discussing  the  reception.  Ro- 
land was  standing  near,  thinking  of  Mabelle, 
and  he  overheard  Lieutenant  Morland  say: 

"When  Lorimer  and  I  were  stationed  at  the 
Washington  Navy  Yard,  Miss  Frothingham 
was  a  great  belle,  and  there  were  rumors  that 
he  was  her  accepted  lover.  She  threw  him 
over  and  married,  or  rather  sold  herself,  to 
165 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

that  old  roue,  Prince  von  Radowitz,  for  his 
title.  It  was  an  awful  blow  to  Lorimer. 

"They  say  the  Prince  leads  her  a  terrible 
life,  and  is  as  jealous  as  a  Turk,  although  he 
has  not  the  least  cause.  Everywhere  men  rave 
over  the  beautiful  Princess,  but  she  is  as  cold 
as  an  iceberg." 

"Scandal  tells  a  very  different  tale  in  Al- 
giers," said  a  dandy  officer,  Lieutenant  Courte- 
nay.  "I  have  heard  that  she  pulls  the  wool 
over  the  Prince's  eyes,  and  makes  him  think  she 
is  a  saint.  But  people  are  beginning  to  couple 
her  name  with  that  of  the  French  officer,  Col- 
onel de  Vaurineux.  He  scarcely  left  her  side  at 
Mrs.  Marshall's  ball,  and  on  board  to-night. 
There  will  be  a  fine  scandal  pretty  soon.  Her 
husband  will  wake  up  some  day  and  find  that 
his  lamb  is  not  so  innocent  as  he  thinks." 

Roland  had  seen  how  Mabelle  repelled  the 
Frenchman,  and  how  coldly  she  refused  to 
dance  with  him  at  Mrs.  Marshall's  ball,  and 
how  annoyed  she  was  on  board  the  vessel  that 
night  when  he  persisted  in  keeping  near  her. 
He  would  have  staked  his  life  on  the  Princess's 


166 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

innocence,  and  to  hear  her  slandered  drove  him 
mad  with  anger. 

Suddenly  Courtenay  felt  a  heavy  hand  laid 
on  his  shoulder.  He  turned  and  faced  Roland, 
who  was  very  pale,  and  his  eyes  literally  blaz- 
ing. 

"Lieutenant  Courtenay,  you  said  you  heard 
what  you  are  telling  in  Algiers.  Give  me  the 
name  of  your  informant." 

"I  shall  do  nothing  of  the  kind,"  answered 
Courtenay,  with  a  contemptuous  sneer. 

"Either  give  me  the  name  of  your  informant 
or  else  retract  what  you  said,"  Roland  said, 
furiously. 

"I  shall  not  retract,"  Courtenay  answered, 
sullenly. 

"Here,  in  the  presence  of  these  gentlemen, 
retract  your  vile  slander,"  cried  Roland  fiercely, 
grasping  Courtenay's  arm  like  a  vise.  "Or,  by 
heaven,  I  swear  I  will  hurl  you  into  the  sea!" 

The  Lieutenant  wrenched  his  arm  away.  "I 
shall  not  retract.  Every  word  I  said  is  true. 
Ask " 

"You  miserable  cur !  Take  that !" 

A  violent  blow  from  Roland  hurled  Courte- 
J67 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

nay  to  the  deck.  He  was  stunned  by  the  force 
of  it,  and  several  of  the  officers  helped  him  to 
his  feet.  As  they  did  so  Captain  Bel  ford  ap- 
peared on  the  scene.  His  brow  grew  dark  and 
stern. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  this?"  he  asked 
sharply. 

"Mr.  Lorimer  attacked  me,"  answered  Court- 
enay,  scarcely  able  to  speak  from  anger. 

"Mr.    Lorimer,   what   have   you   to   say?" 
asked  his  commander  in  his  sternest  tone. 

"He  brought  it  on  himself,"  Roland  said  sul- 
lenly. 

"You  are  placed  in  close  arrest,  sir,"  was 
Captain  Bel  ford's  stern  order. 

Roland  delivered  up  his  sword,  and  then  left 
the  deck. 

When  Mabelle  reached  her  beautiful  boudoir 
that  night  she  threw  herself  down  on  a  chair. 

"Oh,  Roland,  Roland,  my  heart's  beloved, 
your  cold  and  scornful  glance  went  through 
my  heart  like  a  knife.  I  can  stand  the  scorn  of 
all  the  world,  but  not  your  contempt.  What 


J68 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

a  hell  my  life  is !  Oh,  if  I  could  only  die !"  And 
she  burst  into  passionate  sobs. 

The  assault  of  Roland  on  his  superior  officer 
was  of  a  private  character,  and  had  it  taken 
place  in  the  wardroom  would  have  been  settled 
without  official  notice,  but,  as  the  quarrel  took 
place  on  deck,  so  publicly,  in  the  presence  of 
many  of  the  officers  and  some  of  the  crew, 
Roland  was  severely  disciplined  by  Captain 
Belford.  He  was  kept  in  close  arrest  for  ten 
days. 

There  were  quite  a  number  of  Americans  at 
Algiers,  and  the  officers  were  generously  enter- 
tained during  their  short  stay.  As  Roland  was 
in  arrest  he  could  not  leave  the  vessel  to  attend 
these  entertainments.  He  knew  Mabelle  was 
present,  and  not  to  be  able  to  see  her  was  the 
worst  part  of  the  punishment  to  him.  Oh, 
how  he  longed  for  one  more  sight  of  that  dear 
face!  His  agony  was  almost  unbearable  at 
times. 

The  "Excelsior"  touched  at  Tunis,  and  then 
proceeded  to  Naples,  where  Lieutenant  Lorimer 
found  a  number  of  letters  waiting  for  him. 
J69 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

Among  them  was  one  from  Mr.  Fairlie,  tell- 
ing him  of  Wilfred's  crime  and  flight. 

His  brother  a  murderer,  a  fugitive  from  the 
law !  Roland  reeled  and  would  have  fallen  on 
the  deck  if  Lieutenant  Morland  had  not  sprung 
forward  and  caught  him. 

"Are  you  ill,  Lorimer?"  he  asked,  anxiously. 

"Oh,  God!"  burst  from  Roland's  lips  in  a 
tone  of  awful  agony.  "Oh,  Wilfred,  my 
brother,  my  brother !" 

Roland  was  completely  prostrated  by  the 
terrible  shock,  and  for  a  time,  too  ill  to  attend 
to  his  duty. 

Some  of  the  officers  had  received  American 
papers,  and  they  learned  of  Wilfred's  flight. 
Lieutenant  Lorimer  was  a  general  favorite, 
and  all  the  officers,  even  Captain  Bel  ford,  who 
was  not  given  to  being  very  gentle  with  any 
one,  showed  the  greatest  sympathy,  and  did  all 
in  their  power  for  him. 

Wilfred  Lorimer  had  a  long,  stormy  voyage 
to  Havre,  and  as  soon  as  he  landed  he  went 
to  Paris  by  rail  and  took  a  room  at  a  small 
out-of-the-way  hotel.  He  carefully  read  the 
American  papers,  and  found  that  he  was 
J70 


Wilfreds  Flight. 

charged  with  the  murder  of  Frank  Lenox,  and 
that  detectives  were  searching  for  him.  He 
knew  the  "Excelsior"  was  at  Naples,  but 
thought  it  unwise  to  communicate  with  his 
brother. 

Under  a  number  of  assumed  names  Wilfred 
went  to  different  European  cities  and  remained 
a  short  time  in  each.  His  time  was  passed  in 
wild  dissipation,  and  he  spent  his  money  reck- 
lessly. 

In  the  spring  he  returned  to  Paris.  He 
spoke  French  like  a  native,  and  he  assumed 
the  name  of  Jules  Lamoreux,  renting  a  hand- 
some suite  of  apartments  in  a  fashionable  quar- 
ter, and  living  in  fine  style.  He  soon  became 
well  acquainted  with  a  set  of  fast  young 
Frenchmen,  who  helped  him  spend  his  fortune 
at  a  rapid  rate. 

It  was  a  fine  April  day.  The  sun  shone  mer- 
rily, and  the  chestnuts  and  lilacs  seemed  burst- 
ing with  bloom,  as  the  Parisiennes  drove 
through  the  Bois  de  Boulogne  to  the  entrance 
of  the  grounds  of  the  Longchamps  races.  The 
weather  was  really  delightful,  and  the  new 
toilettes  were  seen  to  every  advantage,  as  their 
\7\ 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

dainty  wearers  strolled  up  the  lawn  or  talked 
scandal  beneath  the  trees.  There  was  an  enor- 
mous crowd  in  the  grand  stand,  and  a  perfect 
epidemic  of  spring  toilettes.  The  fair  dames  of 
high  degree,  who  enjoyed  the  reserved  places, 
were  especially  smart. 

Wilfred  went  to  the  races  with  Comte  de 
Marquemont,  the  Marquis  de  Roquelaune  and 
several  others.  He  had  a  very  large  sum  staked 
on  one  of  the  horses,  and  lost  it  all.  He  was 
gloomy  and  silent.  His  gay  companions 
laughed  and  joked  with  him,  and  did  all  they 
could  to  cheer  him  up. 

Wilfred  and  Comte  de  Marquemont  dined 
with  the  Marquis,  and  then  went  to  the  theatre. 
As  they  came  out  the  Comte  proposed  going  to 
the  club.  When  they  reached  the  club  house 
the  Marquis  said,  carelessly: 

"Suppose  we  play  cards,  Lamoreux,  and  per- 
haps you  can  win  back  what  you  lost  on  the 
races." 

The  three  gentlemen  and  a  number  of  others 

played  until  daylight.     Wilfred  won  again  and 

again.     Elated  with  his  success,  and  excited 

by  the  wine  that  was  freely  used,  he  increased 

172 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

his  stakes.  Then  suddenly  all  his  gains  were 
swept  away.  He  turned  pale  as  death  and 
fell  back  in  his  chair. 

"Try  to  regain  what  you  have  lost,  Lamo- 
reux,"  urged  the  Marquis  de  Roquelaune. 

"No ;  I  have  lost  enough  for  one  night,"  Wil- 
fred answered  angrily. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  his  fortune  was  gone; 
he  had  not  more  than  two  thousand  dollars 
left. 

Wilfred  had  breakfast  with  Comte  de 
Marquemont.  Then  he  sumomned  a  cab  and 
was  driven  to  a  fine  residence  a  short  distance 
from  the  city.  As  he  entered,  a  beautiful  but 
showily  dressed  young  woman  came  forward  to 
meet  him. 

"Why  are  you  so  sad,  Jules?"   she  asked. 

"I  lost  a  small  fortune  at  play  last  night," 
he  answered  gloomily. 

About  noon  an  elaborate  lunch  was  served, 
and  Wilfred  drank  deeply  of  the  rich  wines. 

"Suppose  I  take  you  for  a  drive,  Fanchette," 
he  said,  when  the  meal  was  over. 

"I  have  no  objection,"  she  answered. 

Her  carriage  was  brought  to  the  door, 
J73 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"Do  you  think  you  can  manage  those  spirited 
horses,  Jules?"  she  asked  uneasily,  seeing  how 
excited  he  was  with  the  wine. 

"Of  course  I  can,"  he  answered  sharply. 

They  drove  to  the  city.  The  horses  sud- 
denly became  unmanageable,  and  dashed  down 
the  street.  Fanchette  screamed  and  was  about 
to  spring  out.  The  carriage  was  overturned 
and  its  occupants  were  thrown  violently  to  the 
ground.  The  horses  tore  down  the  road,  but 
they  were  soon  stopped. 

Fanchette  was  stunned  and  bruised,  and 
fainted  from  the  shock,  and  later  she  was  taken 
home  in  a  carriage.  Wilfred  lay  white  and 
still.  A  policeman  summoned  an  ambulance 
and  he  was  taken  to  his  residence. 

He  was  seriously  injured,  and  the  physicians 
told  him  he  could  not  live  very  long.  Wilfred 
had  kept  track  of  Roland,  although  he  never 
communicated  with  him.  As  soon  as  he  knew 
he  could  not  live,  he  asked  that  his  brother 
might  be  sent  for. 

The    "Excelsior"    was    stationed    at    Nice. 
When  Roland  received  the  telegram  he  went  to 
Captain   Bel  ford   and   was   granted   leave   of 
174 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

absence,  and  then  he  hurried  on  to  Paris.  The 
moment  he  arrived  in  the  city  he  summoned  a 
cab  and  was  driven  to  his  brother's  residence. 

Wilfred  died  about  a  week  after  the  accident. 
Roland  was  standing  beside  the  bed. 

"Wilfred,  my  brother,"  he  pleaded  earnestly, 
"will  you  not  call  once  on  your  God  before  you 
go  to  meet  Him?" 

A  proud,  defiant  light  flashed  into  the  eyes  of 
the  dying  atheist. 

"There  is  no  God !"  he  cried,  and,  with 
these  words  still  on  his  lips,  Wilfred's  blood- 
stained soul  went  forth  to  meet  the  God  he  had 
denied. 

"Oh,  God!  have  mercy  on  him,"  Roland 
cried,  in  a  voice  of  piercing  anguish,  and  then 
he  fell  on  his  knees  and  wept  like  a  child. 

When  it  became  known  in  America  that 
Wilfred  Lorimer,  the  murderer  of  Cadet 
Lenox,  was  dead,  every  one  wondered  how  he 
had  succeeded  in  eluding  the  detectives.' 

When  the  fever  left  her  Ida  Rexford  was  in 
a  painfully  weak  state.  Dr.  Emlen  ordered  a 


J75 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

change,  and  she  and  her  mother  went  to  a  quiet 
country  place. 

In  the  early  spring  the  engagement  of  Alfred 
Lyman  and  Eveline  Grey  was  announced,  and 
they  were  congratulated  on  all  sides. 

One  beautiful  June  evening  the  first  class  had 
its  last  dress  parade.  They  saluted  Colonel 
Grey,  and  he  gave  them  a  few  words  of  con- 
gratulation as  the  graduating  class,  then  they 
stood  uncovered  to  receive  the  salute  to  them 
as  graduates  tendered  by  the  marching  com- 
panies on  their  way  to  the  barracks. 

In  the  evening  Grant  Hall  was  beautifully 
decorated  for  the  graduating  hop.  Eveline 
Grey  wore  a  pretty  toilette  of  pale  lemon  colored 
satin,  the  skirt  trimmed  with  white  lace  in  a 
spiral  design,  enriched  by  paillettes  and  pearls. 
The  decollete  bodice  was  of  white  tulle, 
trimmed  with  points  of  lemon  satin,  embroid- 
ered with  paillettes  and  pearls,  and  belt  of 
lemon  velvet,  with  a  rich  pearl  buckle,  and 
Eveline  was  the  belle  of  the  evening. 

The  next  day  the  bugle  blew  the  "assembly." 
The  graduating  class   formed  into  ranks  by 
itself,  and  the  other  classes,  acting  as  a  guard 
J76 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

of  honor,  escorted  them  to  the  grove  in  front 
of  the  library  building,  where  the  graduating 
exercises  took  place. 

The  Secretary  of  War  and  General  Schofield 
were  present.  General  Blank  read  out  the 
names,  and  the  Secretary  handed  the  diplomas 
to  the  graduates.  Lyman  came  first,  the  Sec- 
retary gave  him  the  diploma,  and  spoke  a  few 
words  of  congratulation.  From  the  day  of 
Frank  Lenox's  death,  Alfred  Lyman  was  the 
idol  of  the  corps,  and  he  was  greeted  with 
ringing  applause  by  the  whole  battalion. 

After  the  diplomas  were  all  given  out,  the 
Secretary  of  War  and  General  Schofield  each 
made  a  short  address,  the  Chaplain  of  the  Post 
offered  prayer,  and  the  exercises  were  over. 

Alfred  Lyman  went  to  New  York  for  a  few 
days,  and  then  returned  to  West  Point  to  be 
married. 

Eveline  was  an  Episcopalian,  but  she  had 
liberal  views,  and  was  a  firm  believer  in  the 
"Eternal  Hope."  She  was  married  with  the 
Episcopal  service. 

The  Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents  was  pret- 


177 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

tily  decorated  with  potted  plants  and  cut  flowers 
of  every  description. 

Eveline  wore  a  gown  of  white  satin,  lined, 
the  length  of  the  tablier,  with  two  quills  made 
of  bouquets  of  orange  blossoms  buried  in  mous- 
seline  de  soie.  On  her  head  she  wore  a  small 
crown  of  orange  blossoms,  and  a  splendid  veil 
of  point  d'Angleterre,  spreading  majestically  on 
her  train.  She  carried  a  bouquet  of  white 
azaleas  and  roses. 

Emma  Bromley,  a  pretty  blonde,  was  maid 
of  honor.  She  wore  a  dress  of  azure-blue  tulle 
over  silk  of  the  same  shade,  ornamented  with 
gentle  tufts  of  lilies  of  the  valley.  The  four 
bridesmaids  were  in  white  silk  and  tulle;  all 
wore  large  white  hats,  trimmed  with  white 
ostrich  plumes,  and  carried  bouquets  of  white 
violets  and  lilies  of  the  valley. 

Alfred  Lyman  looked  very  well  in  his  uni- 
form of  Lieutenant  of  Engineers.  Lieutenant 
Everly  was  best  man. 

The  words  of  the  marriage  ceremony  were 
spoken  with  solemn  impressiveness,  and  Alfred 
Lyman  and  Eveline  Grey  were  pronounced  hus- 
band and  wife. 

J78 


Wilfred's  Flight. 

After  a  wedding  breakfast  and  reception 
Lieutenant  and  Mrs.  Lyman  went  to  New  York 
and  then  on  a  tour  through  the  East.  The  last 
few  days  of  Alfred's  graduation  leave  were 
spent  in  Pennslyvania  with  his  parents. 

In  the  fall  Mrs.  Rexford  and  Ida  returned  to 
West  Point.  Lieutenant  Guy  Everly  was  very 
attentive  to  Ida,  and  in  the  spring  they  were 
married.  Soon  afterward  Lieutenant  Everly 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain,  and  or- 
dered to  a  post  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

The  marriage  was  not  a  happy  one.  Ida  was 
a  spoiled  child,  Guy  also  had  a  good  deal  of 
temper,  and  they  could  not  agree.  Mrs.  Everly 
had  no  more  idea  of  managing  a  house  than  a 
china  doll,  and  she  was  completely  at  the  mercy 
of  the  servant.  She  was  extravagant,  fond  of 
dress  and  show,  and  in  no  time  their  expenses 
were  in  excess  of  Guy's  pay.  He  remonstrated 
with  her  in  vain,  and  there  were  stormy  scenes 
between  them. 

Ida  was  a  born  coquette,  and  her  marriage 
made  no  difference;   she  encouraged  the  atten- 
tions of  the  other  officers,  and  at  length  Guy 
became  violently  jealous. 
179 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

A  daughter  was  born  just  about  a  year  after 
the  marriage.  Ida  was  very  ill  for  a  long 
time,  and  Guy,  who  really  loved  her  passion- 
ately, was  a  devoted  husband.  Ida  did  not 
care  for  children,  and  she  left  Nellie  entirely  to 
the  nurse. 

Two  miserable  years  passed,  and  then,  after 
a  violent  scene,  Ida  said  passionately: 

"It  is  best  for  us  to  part,  Guy.  It  is  impos- 
sible for  us  to  live  together  in  peace." 

Lieutenant  Everly  turned  pale  as  death. 
"Perhaps  it  is  best,  Ida,"  he  said  brokenly. 
"But  God  knows  I  have  tried  to  make  you 
happy." 

So  they  separated.  Mrs.  Everly  lives  with 
her  parents,  and  she  is  a  miserable,  unhappy, 
disappointed  woman. 


J80 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 


CHAPTER  XL 
THE  SOLDIER'S  REVENGE. 

"My  listening  powers 

Were  awed,  and  every  thought  In  silence  hung 
And  wondering  expectation." 

— Akenside. 

"Not  in  the  void  of  heaven,  not  in  the  depths  of  the 
sea,  not  by  entering  the  rocky  cliffs  of  the  mountains, — 
not  in  any  of  these  places,  or  by  any  means,  can  a  man 
escape  the  consequences  of  his  evil  deed." 

— The  Tripitaka  of  the  Buddhists. 

WILFRED'S  crime  and  death  were  a  terrible 
shock  to  Roland,  and  for  a  long  time  he  was 
very  silent  and  melancholy. 

After  two  years'  cruise  in  the  Mediterranean 
Sea,  the  "Excelsior"  was  ordered  home  to  the 
League  Island  Navy  Yard. 

In  a  miserable  house  near  Front  and  Catha- 
rine Streets,  Rufus  Bennett  lay  dying.  A 
Roman  Catholic  priest  and  a  Sister  of  Charity 
were  in  the  room. 

J8J 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"Father,  I  cannot  die  without  telling  Roland 
Lorimer  the  truth,  and  obtaining  his  forgive- 
ness," said  Rufus.  "He  is  stationed  at  League 
Island,  and  could  not  some  one  be  sent  for 
him?" 

"I  will  see  what  I  can  do,"  the  priest  an- 
swered. He  tore  a  leaf  from  a  note  book  and 
hastily  wrote: 

"LIEUTENANT  R.  LORIMER, 

"DEAR  SIR  :    Rufus  Bennett  is  dying  at  No. 

Catharine  Street.    He  has  something  very 

important  to  tell  you  about  your  father  and 
Wilfred.  Please  come  without  delay,  as  he 
cannot  possibly  live  the  day  out. 

"Very  respectfully, 
"REV.  PATRICK  KELLY." 

The  priest  went  downstairs.  Three  or  four 
boys  were  playing  in  front  of  the  house. 

"Mike  Moloney,"  he  said  to  one  of  them, 
"I  want  you  to  go  to  the  Navy  Yard." 

"All  right,  yer  riverence." 

The  priest  gave  him  careful  directions  how 
182 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

to  go,  then  he  gave  him  some  money.  "Pay 
your  carfare  with  that,"  and,  he  added  sharply, 
"don't  spend  it  on  the  way." 

Mike  gave  an  ugly  leer  and  started  off. 

Lieutenant  Lorimer  was  in  the  Command- 
ant's office  when  Mike  entered. 

"This  is  for  Loot'nint  Lorimer,"  he  said, 
holding  out  the  note  all  crumpled  and  soiled. 

Roland  came  forward  and  said :  "I  am  Lieu- 
tenant Lorimer." 

He  read  the  note.  He  was  not  on  duty,  and 
started  at  once,  but  he  had  to  wait  for  the  little 
stage  that  runs  between  the  Navy  Yard  and 
Snyder  Avenue.  On  arriving  at  the  depot  he 
took  a  Twelfth  Street  car,  rode  up  to  Catha- 
rine Street,  and  then  walked  to  the  number 
given  in  the  note. 

He  entered  the  house  and  turned  faint  at  the 
scene  of  want  and  misery.  A  slatternly  woman 
was  seated  on  a  broken  chair,  smoking  a  pipe. 
She  stared  at  the  handsome  young  man  in  uni- 
form. 

"Is  there  a  man  named  Rufus  Bennett  in 
this  house?"  he  asked. 

"Yis,  he's  on  the  third  floor.     Tim,"  to  a 

J83 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

little,  ragged  urchin,  "take  the  gintleman  up- 
stairs." 

Roland  followed  the  boy  up  the  dark,  narrow 
stairway,  that  almost  threatened  to  break  under 
him.  Tim  threw  open  a  door. 

"He's  in  here,  mishter." 

Roland  entered  the  room.  Father  Kelly 
came  forward. 

"I  am  glad' you  have  arrived,  sir." 

"Let  me  begin  my  story  at  once,"  said 
Rufus. 

Roland  felt  that  some  terrible  secret  was 
about  to  be  revealed,  and  his  heart  throbbed 
violently.  He  seated  himself  on  a  chair  beside 
the  bed. 

"Roland  Lorimer,"  began  Rufus,  "did  your 
father  ever  tell  you  why  he  left  England?" 

"Yes,"  Roland  answered. 

"My  real  name  is  Honore  Lesrel.  I  was 
born  in  Paris,  but  brought  up  by  an  old  bache- 
lor uncle,  Frangois  Lesrel,  who  kept  a  small 
shop  in  Lyons.  My  uncle  was  very  stern,  al- 
most brutal  at  times,  and  he  always  seemed  to 
positively  hate  me.  Whenever  I  asked  about 
my  parents  I  was  curtly  told  they  were  dead. 
J84 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

As  my  name  was  the  same  as  my  uncle's,  I  con- 
cluded that  my  father  was  his  brother. 

"I  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  and 
received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science. 
When  I  was  eighteen  years  of  age  I  passed  the 
required  examination  and  entered  the  military 
school  of  St.  Cyr.  The  course  of  study  lasts 
two  years,  and  the  cadets  take  an  engagement 
to  serve  in  the  army  seven  years.  The  two 
years  at  the  school  counts  as  a  part  of  their 
service. 

"At  the  end  of  two  years  I  passed  the  exam- 
ination, standing  number  four  in  my  class,  and 
I  entered  one  of  the  crack  cavalry  regiments 
in  the  French  army  as  a  second  lieutenant. 

"A  year  later  my  Uncle  Frangois  died.  He 
never  destroyed  a  letter  in  his  life.  I  examined 
his  papers  and  found  letters  that  revealed  a 
terrible  secret.  My  uncle  had  one  sister, 
Claudine,  who,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  fled 
from  home  with  an  English  peer,  the  Duke  of 
Laughton.  Her  lover  deserted  her  in  Paris 
after  a  time,  and  she  wrote  to  her  brother  beg- 
ging him  to  receive  her  child,  Honore,  as  she 
was  dying. 

J85 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"My  uncle  never  forgave  his  sister  for  dis- 
gracing the  family.  He  went  to  Paris  and 
brought  home  the  child.  He  was  in  business 
in  Marseilles,  but  moved  to  Lyons,  where  his 
sister's  disgrace  was  unknown. 

"There  was  a  stain  on  my  birth.  Now  I 
understood  why  my  uncle  hated  me.  Oh, 
Roland  Lorimer,  no  words  can  describe  my 
shame  and  misery  when  I  made  the  discovery. 

"I  searched  the  English  peerage  and  found 
that  Duke  of  Laughton  had  two  sons,  Lord 
Alresford  and  your  father.  I  was  two  years 
older  than  Alresford,  and  I  ought  to  have  been 
the  heir.  I  was  the  eldest  son.  I  was  rilled  with 
rage  and  hatred.  I  called  down  the  curses  of 
heaven  on  my  father  and  brothers,  and  I  swore 
a  terrible  oath  that  in  some  way  I  would  be 
revenged  for  the  cruel  wrong  done  to  me." 

Honore  paused  for  breath.  The  sister  came 
forward.  She  wiped  the  cold  sweat  from  his 
forehead,  and  gave  him  some  medicine. 

"I  was  very  extravagant,  and  my  passion  for 

play  amounted  to  a  perfect  mania.     I   soon 

squandered  the  little  sum  my  uncle  left  me, 

and  then,  to  pay  my  gambling  and  other  debts, 

186 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

I  forged  the  name  of  Marquis  de  Choiseul, 
Colonel  of  the  regiment,  and  one  of  the  richest 
men  in  France,  for  a  large  sum.  The  forgery 
was  discovered,  and,  to  escape  arrest,  I  de- 
serted and  fled  to  the  Continent. 

"For  several  years  I  roamed  through  Europe 
under  a  dozen  different  names,  and  more  than 
once  I  narrowly  escaped  falling  into  the  hands 
of  detectives.  I  got  my  living  as  a  card-sharper 
and.  in  other  ways ;  in  short,  I  committed  every 
crime  but  murder. 

"At  last  I  fell  in  with  the  Frenchman,  Gas- 
pard  du  Vair,  an  Italian  and  a  Spaniard.  We 
all  went  to  London  and  opened  a  gambling  hell 
ill  a  fashionable  quarter,  and  things  went  on 
swimmingly  for  a  time. 

"One  day  in  Hyde  Park  the  Duke  of  Laugh- 
ton  and  his  sons  were  pointed  out  to  me.  Feel- 
ings of  hatred  and  revenge  struggled  in  my 
breast,  and  I  felt  tempted  to  kill  them  then  and 
there.  I  slipped  my  hand  in  my  pocket  and 
nervously  clutched  a  revolver,  but  somehow  I 
could  not  fire. 

"One  day  Du  Vair  informed  me  that  he  held 
the  note  of  Lord  Reginald  d'Arto  for  twenty 
J87 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

thousand  pounds.  I  was  not  present  at  the 
gambling  table  when  my  brother  lost  it. 
Luck  had  gone  against  us  lately,  and  I  had 
scarcely  a  shilling.  I  determined  to  raise 
•money  by " 

"Then  you  were  the  forger.  You  forged  my 
grandfather's  and  father's  names,"  cried  Ro- 
land. "Oh,  how  could  you  let  my  poor  father 
suffer  for  your  crime?" 

"I  knew  the  Duke  had  sworn  he  would  not 
pay  his  son's  gambling  debts,  and  I  thought  if  I 
forged  a  check  payable  to  Lord  Reginald,  his 
father  would  believe  him  guilty.  When  I  pre- 
sented the  check  at  the  bank  the  clerk  demanded 
to  know  who  gave  it  to  me.  I  had  no  doubt 
that  the  Duke  would  believe  his  son  guilty,  but 
order  the  check  paid  to  save  the  family  from  a 
public  scandal. 

"The  check  was  given  to  me  in  payment  for 
a  debt  of  honor,"  I  answered,  "but  I  decline 
to  give  the  gentleman's  name  unless  his  grace 
declares  it  a  forgery. 

"As  soon  as  I  received  the  money  I  thought 
it  best  to  leave  England  for  a  time.  Imagine 
my  surprise  when  I  returned  to  find  my  father 
J88 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

dead,  and  Lord  Reginald  gone,  no  one  knew 
where.  I  had  driven  my  hated  brother  from  his 
native  land,  branded  as  a  criminal.  I  tried  to 
rejoice,  but  I  could  not.  The  memory  of  my 
crime  haunted  me  like  a  gloomy  nightmare. 

"We  had  to  leave  London  after  a  while, 
and  we  went  to  a  number  of  different  places 
plying  our  trade  as  card-sharpers.  We  were  in 
Berlin,  and  so  hard  up  that  Du  Vair  formed  a 
plan  to  rob  a  nobleman's  residence.  The  plan 
was  a  disastrous  failure.  Du  Vair  and  the 
others  were  captured,  but  I  escaped  and  fled  to 
America. 

"For  a  time  I  was  a  professional  gambler, 
and  then  I  enlisted.  I  was  thirty-two  years  old, 
but  I  swore  I  was  not  over  thirt>.  I  was  ter- 
ribly startled  to  find  my  brother  Reginald  was 
the  captain  of  the  troop.  He  started  violently 
when  he  saw  me,  doubtless  on  account  of  my 
striking  resemblance  to  his  father. 

"I  fell  in  love  with  Nora  McCloskey,  and, 
Roland,  I  really  did  love  her.  When  my  son 
and  Captain  Lorimer's  were  born  I  formed  a 
plan  by  which  I  hoped  my  child  might  some 
day  become  Duke  of  Laughton,  and  so  I  would 
JS9 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

be  revenged  for  the  wrong  done  me.  Mrs. 
Bridget  Flanagan  was  Nora's  nurse,  and  I 
bribed  her  to  change  the  children,  which  she 
did  at  a  terrible  risk.  It  was  Captain  Lori- 
mer's  child  that  died,  and  Wilfred,  whom  you 
supposed  to  be  your  half-brother,  was  my  son 
and  your  cousin." 

So  great  was  the  shock  at  this  disclosure  that 
Roland  fell  back  into  the  chair,  white  and 
trembling. 

"I  had  my  revenge.  I  had  made  my  brother 
an  exile  from  his  native  land,  and  I  robbed  him 
of  his  child,  but,  Roland,  I  was  wretched.  Men 
may  talk  of  the  pleasures  of  sin  as  they  will, 
but  there  is  no  peace  for  the  wicked.  If  a  man 
flee  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  he  cannot  escape 
the  consequences  of  an  evil  deed.  Men  say  that 
a  man's  conscience  may  become  seared  and 
cease  to  trouble.  But  who  can  tell,  in  spite  of 
a  person's  actions,  what  goes  on  in  his  breast? 
It  is  impossible  to  put  away  one's  conscience; 
it  may  be  silenced,  but  never  dethroned.  Bury 
it,  pile  upon  it  all  the  iniquity  you  please,  heap 
indifference  and  scorn  upon  it,  seal  the  sep- 
ulchre with  eternal  disdain,  so  that  you  believe 
J90 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

the  troubler  is  buried,  but,  in  an  hour  when  you 
think  not,  that  sepulchre  will  be  rent  asunder, 
and  the  Great  Avenger  you  thought  was 
wrapped  in  the  unbroken  slumber  of  death, 
will  spring  forth  to  confront  you.  Oh,  how 
well  has  Lord  Bryon  described  the  pangs  of 
guilty  conscience : 

"  'The  mind  that  broods  o'er  guilty  woes, 
Is  like  the  scorpion  girt  by  fire; 
In  circle  narrowing  as  it  glows, 
The  flames  around  their  captive  close; 
Till  inly  scorched  by  thousand  throes, 
And  inly  maddening  in  her  ire, 
One  and  sole  relief  she  knows — 
The  sting  she  nourished  for  her  foes, 
Whose  venom  never  yet  was  vain, 
Gives  but  one  pang,  and  cures  all  pain, 
She  darts  into  her  desperate  brain. 
So  do  the  dark  in  soul  expire, 
Or  live  like  scorpion  girt  by  fire; 
So  writhes  the  mind  remorse  hath  riven, 
Unfit  for  earth,  undoomed  for  heaven; 
Darkness  above,  despair  beneath, 
Around  it  fiamc,  within  it  death* 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"And  this  was  my  condition.  My  life  was 
a  perfect  hell.  I  could  not  do  away  with  the 
memory  of  my  sin.  Ever  and  anon  it  rose  be- 
fore me  like  a  hideous  skeleton.  No  bolt  direct 
from  the  hand  of  God  could  have  added  to  my 
misery.  The  worst  punishment  of  sin  is  to  be 
the  sinner. 

"I  loved  my  child,  I  yearned  to  hear  him 
call  me  father,  and  how  I  longed  to  have  him 
love  me,  but  I  could  not.  To  crown  all  my 
misery,  Mrs.  Flanagan  and  her  husband  swore 
they  would  reveal  the  secret,  and  I  had  to  pay 
them  to  keep  quiet. 

"I  saw  all  my  evil  traits  in  my  son.  He 
showed  no  love  for  those  supposed  to  be  his 
parents  or  for  you,  but  he  inherited  my  feelings 
of  revenge  and  hatred.  Whatever  my  faults 
I  loved  my  child,  and  it  was  this  love  that  kept 
me  in  the  American  army.  But  for  him  I 
should  have  deserted  long  before  I  did;  and 
when  Wilfred  went  to  Clifton  Hall  I  felt  so 
lonely,  and  I  missed  him  so  much,  that  I  found 
it  impossible  to  remain  at  Fort  B 

Honore  Lesrel  paused,  and  the  sister  gave 
him  some  more  medicine. 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"I  have  sinned  deeply,  Roland,  but  great  has 
been  my  punishment.  I  robbed  Reginald  of  his 
child,  in  hopes  that  my  son  might  some  day  in- 
herit the  title  that  ought  to  have  been  mine. 
My  hopes  were  in  vain,  and  I  believe  God  pun- 
ished my  sin  through  my  child.  From  the 
newspapers  I  know  that  my  son  died  as  a  fugi- 
tive criminal,  and  with  the  stain  of  blood  on 
his  soul." 

The  dying  man  turned  his  face  to  the  wall 
and  lay  silent  for  some  time. 

"After  I  deserted  I  led  a  criminal  life  until 
I  fell  ill,  and  had  to  come  here,"  Honore  said, 
speaking  with  an  effort.  He  paused  a  moment, 
and  then  said  pleadingly : 

"Roland  d'Arto,  I  am  dying.  Will  you  not 
forgive  me?  Without  your  forgiveness  I  can- 
not die  in  peace." 

Roland  took  the  man's  hand  in  his  and  said 
solemnly : 

"Uncle  Honore,  may  God  forgive  you,  as  I 
do,  with  all  my  heart." 

A  grateful  smile  spread  over  Honore's  face. 
He  lifted  Roland's  hand  to  his  lips  and  kissed 
it,  while  Father  Kelly  asked  him  earnestly: 
J93 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"Honore  Lesrel,  do  you  truly  repent  of  your 
sins?" 

Honore  meekly  bent  his  head  in  sign  of  as- 
sent, saying:  "I  do." 

Then  Father  Kelly,  devoutly  raising  his 
hand,  said  solemnly:  "And  now,  as  man  has 
forgiven  you,  so  may  God  in  His  infinite  mercy 
forgive  you  also."  And  he  gave  him  the  holy 
absolution  in  articulo  mortis. 

Almost  before  he  ceased  speaking  Honore's 
soul  fled. 

Roland  turned  to  the  priest  and  said :  "I 
will  pay  all  the  expenses  of  my  uncle's  burial." 

Roland  felt  relieved  that  his  father's  name 
was  cleared,  but  it  was  a  great  shock  to  learn 
that  Wilfred  was  not  his  brother. 

When  Roland  returned  to  the  navy  yard,  he 
happened  to  take  up  the  Public  Ledger,  and 
was  startled  to  see  the  following  paragraph 
heading  the  foreign  news : 

"SUICIDE  OF  AN  ENGLISH  NAVAL  OFFICER. 

"PORTSMOUTH,  March  19. — On  the  i/th  of 

March,  Lieutenant  Lord  Lionel  d'Arto,  R.  N., 

who  was  in  close  arrest  awaiting  trial  for  dis- 

J94 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

respect  to  his  superior  officer  and  conduct  un- 
becoming an  officer  and  a  gentleman  com- 
mitted suicide.  A  revolver  was  still  clutched 
in  his  hand,  and  a  large  hole  in  his  head 
showed  the  manner  of  his  death. 

"Lord  Lionel  was  the  youngest  son  of  the 
Duke  of  Laughton.  The  Duke  had  been  in 
ill  health  for  some  time,  and  when  he  received 
the  news  of  his  son's  suicide,  the  shock  proved 
too  much  for  him,  and  he  died  in  a  few  days. 

"The  eldest  son,  Marquis  of  Alresford,  suc- 
ceeds to  the  title  as  the  eighth  Duke." 


J95 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


CONCLUSION. 


"Then  let  me  hold  thee  to  my  heart, 

And  every  care  resign ; 
And  shall  we  never,  never  part, 
Oh !  thou,  my  all  that's  mine." 

— Goldsmith. 

ANOTHER  year  passed  and  then  Lieutenant 
Lorimer  accidentally  saw  the  following  adver- 
tisement : 

"Wanted — Information  of  Lord  Reginald 
H.  L.  d'Arto,  who  is  supposed  to  have  gone  to 
America  in  1861.  Any  information  will  be 
thankfully  received  by  Wedderburn  &  Kinnard, 
solicitors,  No.  24  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  London, 
England." 

"I  wonder  if  my  cousin  the  Duke  of  Laugh- 
ton,  can  be  dead?"  Roland  thought.  "In  that 
case  I  am  the  next  heir." 

He  wrote  to  the  solicitors,  and  received  an 
196 


Conclusion. 

answer  requesting  him  to  come  to  England. 
The  Duke  of  Laughton  had  died  very  suddenly, 
and  he,  Roland,  was  the  next  heir,  but  he  would 
have  to  prove  beyond  a  doubt  that  he  was  Lord 
Reginald's  son. 

Roland  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
asking  for  leave  of  absence,  with  permission  to 
leave  the  country,  on  account  of  urgent  per- 
sonal business. 

The  leave  was  granted,  and  Roland  went  to 
London.  He  proved  that  he  was  Lord  Regi- 
nald's son,  and  was  declared  the  ninth  Duke  of 
Laughton.  The  wealth  of  Victoria  Trevelyan 
had  cleared  off  all  debts.  Roland  found  him- 
self the  possessor  of  four  fine  estates  in  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  Ireland  and  Wales,  and  an  in- 
come of  £50,000.  As  soon  as  his  right  to  the 
title  was  proved  he  resigned  his  commission  in 
the  American  navy. 

Roland  revealed  who  had  forged  the  check 
for  twenty  thousand  pounds,  and  cleared  his 
father's  name,  but  no  one  ever  knew  about 
Wilfred. 

In  July,  Roland,  or  the  Duke  of  Laughton, 
as  we  must  now  call  him,  went  to  Trouville, 
197 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

the  fashionable  French  watering-place.  One 
day  he  attended  a  dance  at  the  Casino.  Among 
the  ladies  was  a  pretty  blonde  in  a  toilette  of 
black  mousseline  de  soie  with  incrustations  of 
black  and  white  Chantilly  lace,  outlined  with 
rows  of  jet,  and  hat  of  black  beaded  straw, 
trimmed  with  ostrich  plumes  and  la  France 
roses.  Her  face  seemed  familiar  to  him,  and 
at  last  he  remembered  she  was  Laura  Alden, 
Mabelle's  friend,  and  now  the  Duchesse  de  la 
Villiere. 

She  recognized  the  Duke  and  came  over  to 
him.  She  said  she  had  heard  of  his  accesssion 
to  the  title  of  Duke  of  Laughton.  They  had  a 
pleasant  conversation,  and  then  the  Duke 
danced  with  her. 

When  ready  to  leave  the  casino,  the  Duchesse 
came  to  the  Duke  with  her  husband  and  intro- 
duced him. 

"I  intend  to  give  a  musicale  on  Thursday 
evening,  Monsieur  le  Due,"  she  said  pleasantly, 
"and  I  should  be  pleased  to  have  you  among  my 
guests." 

The  Duke  thanked  her  and  accepted  the  in- 
vitation. 


Conclusion. 

The  Duchesse  de  la  Villiere  was  the  leader 
of  society  at  the  gay  resort,  and  the  musicale 
was  a  grand,  crowded  affair. 

A  noted  soprano  sang  the  following  beauti- 
ful ballad: 

"I  never  can  fofget  thee, 
What  e'er  my  lot  may  be; 
In  sadness,  or  in  joy,  my  heart 
Will  ever  turn  to  thee; 
The  fond  remembrance  of  the  past, 
May  sometimes  bring  regret, 
But  till  my  life  shall  cease  to  be, 
I  never  can  forget. 

"I  never  can  forget  thee, 
My  destiny  is  cast, 
For  as  thou  wert  my  first  love, 
So  thou  wilt  be  my  last; 
You  say  I  soon  shall  cease  to  think, 
That  we  have  ever  met, 
But,  oh!  you  little  know  my  heart, 
To  say  I  can  forget." 

The  Duke  of  Laughton  had  a  grand  old  title 
J99 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

and  wealth;  he  had  everything  a  man  could 
wish  for,  but  he  was  not  happy.  The  love  he 
felt  for  Mabelle  burned  in  his  heart  like  a  puri- 
fying fire  and  seemed  to  refine  and  elevate  his 
whole  being  He  tried  to  crush  it,  but  he  could 
not.  Ever)  /<ld  of  the  song  was  like  a  stab 
to  him ;  so  great  was  his  agitation  that  he  could 
scarcely  control  himself. 

After  the  music  an  elaborate  supper  was 
served.  Flowers  were  placed  in  every  nook  and 
corner  of  the  dining-joom,  upon  the  mantel- 
piece, in  large  bowls  upon  the  sideboards,  masses 
of  pink  and  white  and  crimson  and  yellow ;  but 
the  tables  were  solely  ornamented  with  fruit. 
Greengages,  peaches  and  grapes  rested  upon 
vine  leaves  in  white  Dresden  baskets. 

When  the  Duke  took  leave  of  his  hostess  she 
said: 

"Can  you  come  to  dejeuner  to-morrow,  Mon- 
sieur le  Due?  I  should  particularly  like  to  see 
you." 

"I  shall  come  without  fail,"  he  answered. 

The  next  day  at  one  o'clock  the  Duke  went 
to  lunch.     No  one  was  present  but  the  Duch- 
esse  and  her  husband.    The  meal  was  daintily 
200 


Conclusion. 

served,  and  the  viands  were  such  as  can  be 
found  nowhere  outside  of  France. 

After  the  meal  was  over  the  gentlemen  went 
into  the  billiard  room  and  had  a  game.  Then 
the  host  excused  himself  on  plea  of  an  engage- 
ment. 

The  Duchesse  asked  the  Duke  to  come  to  her 
boudoir. 

"Are  you  aware,  Monsieur  le  Due,  that  the 
Princess  von  Radowitz  has  been  a  widow  for 
more  than  a  year?"  she  asked. 

"No,  I  was  not  aware  of  it,"  he  answered 
coldly. 

"If  you  remember,  on  the  night  of  your  be- 
trothal, Mabelle  told  you  that  her  mother  had 
asked  her  to  come  home  the  next  day?" 

"Yes,  I  remember." 

"When  Mabelle  arrived  home  the  next 
evening  she  found  the  Austrian  there.  He  had 
met  the  family  abroad,  and  Mr.  Frothingham 
asked  him  to  call  on  them  if  he  ever  came  to 
America. 

"After  dinner  Mabelle  went  into  the  draw- 
ing room,  and  the  Prince  soon  entered.  He 


201 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

took  a  seat  beside  her,  and  asked  her  to  be  his 
wife.  Mabelle  coldly  refused  him. 

"There  was  a  scowl  on  his  face,  dark  and 
terrible. 

"  'Either  you  be  my  wife,  Miss  Frothing- 
ham,  or  I  shall  ruin  your  father.' 

"  'What  do  you  mean  ?'  Mabelle  said,  white 
and  trembling. 

"  'What  I  say/  he  said  coldly.  'Your  father 
is  the  financial  partner  in  the  firm  of  Talcott, 
Frothingham  &  Co.  He  has  been  speculating 
recklessly.  These  speculations  were  carried  on 
largely  in  Wall  Street,  and  his  many  visits  to 
New  York  were  supposed  by  the  firm  to  be 
made  in  the  interest  of  their  business.  But 
much  of  this  stock  gambling  has  ended  in 
failure.  Eugene  Frothingham  is  a  large  real 
estate  owner,  and  to  cover  these  losses  he  has 
been  obliged  to  mortgage  some  of  it  very 
heavily,  and  then  to  withdraw  cash  from  the 
firm ' 

"  'Stop !  how  dare  you  slander  my  father  ?' 
and  Mabelle  started  to  her  feet  and  confronted 
him  with  flashing  eyes. 

"A  diabolical  grin  distorted  his  features,  he 
202 


Conclusion. 

forced  her  back  into  the  chair  and  grasped  her 
hands  like  a  vise. 

"  'You  shall  hear  me  through.  Your  father 
never  took  a  vacation,  and  as  the  financial  part- 
ner of  the  firm,  it  was  not  a  difficult  matter  for 
him  to  cover  up  the  use  by  him  of  its  funds. 

"  'Your  father  has  raised  money  by  forging 
the  firm's  name  to  promissory  notes,  payable 
in  thirty  days.  He  has  not  the  means  to  pay 
these  notes,  and  all  will  be  discovered.' 

"Mabelle  sat  like  a  marble  image. 

"'How  did  you  find  this  out?'  she  asked 
hoarsely. 

"  'That's  my  business,'  he  said  curtly. 

"  'I  will  go  to  Mr.  Talcott  and  ask  him  to  be 
merciful,'  she  gasped. 

"The  Prince  laughed,  a  low,  terrible  laugh. 

"  'Much  good  that  would  do.  Two  more 
grasping,  miserly  men  than  Giles  Talcott  and 
Theodore  Garrett  do  not  exist.  They  would 
sell  their  very  souls  to  make  a  dollar.  They 
will  have  no  mercy,  and  Eugene  Frothingham 
will  be  arrested  for  forgery  and  embezzle- 
ment.' 

"  'Oh,  what  shall  I  do?'  wailed  Mabelle. 
203 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"  'Your  father  has  stolen,  in  all,  nearly  half 
a  million  dollars  from  the  firm.  On  one  con- 
dition I  will  save  him :  be  my  wife  and  I  will 
give  him  the  whole  sum.  He  can  clear  off  the 
mortgage  on  his  real  estate  and  pay  the  prom- 
issory notes.  In  ten  days  these  notes  are  due. 
He  cannot  possibly  pay  them.  Refuse  my  offer 
and  your  father  goes  to  jail.' ' 

The  Duke  listened  to  this  narrative  with 
flashing  eyes  and  white  lips. 

"The  old  scoundrel!"  burst  from  him  furi- 
ously. 

"  'My  title  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Austria/ 
the  Prince  continued,  'and  I  am  immensely 
rich.  I  can  give  you  everything  you  can  pos- 
sibly wish  for.  As  the  Princess  von  Radowitz 
you  could  go  to  court  and  reign  as  a  social 
queen  among  the  most  exclusive  society  in 
Europe.' 

"  'I  do  not  believe  your  story.  It  is  false !' 
Mabelle  cried  passionately. 

"  'Go  and  ask  your  father/  he  answered 
coldly. 

"A  low  cry  broke  from  Mabelle,  and  she  fell 
to  the  floor  insensible.  When  she  recovered 
204 


Conclusion. 

her  father  was  bending  over  her.  He  told  her 
he  did  not  know  how  the  Prince  found  out 
about  his  affairs,  but  he  would  go  to  jail  rather 
than  have  her  marry  him. 

"The  Prince  went  to  Mrs.  Frothingham  and 
threatened  to  ruin  her  husband.  She  was  a 
semi-invalid,  and  the  shock  almost  killed  her. 
She  declared  she  would  die.  She  could  not  bear 
poverty  and  disgrace,  and  she  urged  Mabelle 
to  marry  the  Prince,  and  do  anything  rather 
than  have  the  family  publicly  disgraced.  And, 
for  her  mother's  sake,  Mabelle  promised  to  be 
the  wife  of  Prince  von  Radowitz." 

"Did  Mabelle  know  what  answer  her  father 
sent  to  me  in  reply  to  my  letter  asking  for  his 
daughter?"  asked  the  Duke. 

"No ;  she  did  not  know." 

"Thank  God !"  cried  the  Duke  from  his  very 
heart. 

"I  had  always  been  like  a  sister  to  Mabelle," 
continued  the  Duchesse.  "She  told  me  the 
truth,  and  begged  of  me,  as  a  special  favor, 
to  be  maid  of  honor.  She  looked  like  a  corpse 
on  the  wedding  day,  and  her  cheeks  were 
rouged  to  conceal  the  unearthly  paleness. 
205 


The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"The  Prince  was  a  jealous,  selfish  tyrant. 
He  led  her  a  terrible  life,  and  as  long  as  her 
parents  lived,  which  was  not  very  long,  how- 
ever, he  made  her  do  just  as  he  said  by  threat- 
ening to  tell  all  about  her  father. 

"A.  little  more  than  a  year  ago  the  Prince 
died  very  suddenly  of  apoplexy.  Mabelle  had 
no  children,  and  the  title  and  vast  estates  went 
to  a  younger  brother.  Mabelle  has  one-third 
of  the  income  for  life,  and  she  is  a  very  rich 
woman." 

The  Duchesse  paused  for  a  moment,  then 
continued : 

"I  could  not  help  noticing  your  agitation 
during  the  singing  of  that  song  last  night.  I 
felt  convinced  that  you  still  cared  for  Mabelle, 
and  I  am  sure  she  loves  you.  I  love  Mabelle 
as  much  as  my  own  sister,  so  I  told  you  this." 

"God  bless  you  for  telling  me,  Duchesse," 
said  the  Duke.  "And  you  think  Mabelle  still 
loves  me — would  be  willing  to  marry  me?" 

"I  am  sure  she  would." 

"Where  is  she  living  now?" 

"Mabelle  declared  she  could  not  return  to  the 
United  States.  Ever  since  the  Prince's  death 
206 


Conclusion. 

she  has  lived  in  Mignonette  Villa,  a  pretty  place 
a  short  way  from  Rome." 

That  evening  the  Duke  wrote  a  long  letter  to 
Mabelle.  The  Duchesse  de  la  Villiere  wrote 
also.  Her  letter  ended  thus  : 

"Forgive  me  for  telling  the  Duke  of  Laugh- 
ton,  darling,  but,  Mabelle,  I  love  you  so  much, 
I  want  to  see  you  happy,  and  I  could  not  help 
it" 

The  dowager  Princess  von  Radowitz  was 
seated  in  her  boudoir  when  a  trim  maid  brought 
her  two  letters.  She  opened  the  Duke's  first. 
She  instantly  recognized  the  handwriting,  and 
for  a  moment  emotion  nearly  overpowered  her. 
She  read  it  through  and  then  opened  the  Duch- 
esse's  letter.  After  reading  it  she  wrote  to  the 
Duke,  only  a  few  lines,  telling  him  to  come 
and  see  her. 

A  few  days  later  the  footman  threw  open  the 
drawing-room  door  and  announced: 

"His  grace,  the  Duke  of  Laughton." 

Mabelle  was  standing  by  the  window,  and 
she  turned  as  the  Duke  entered. 

"Mabelle!" 

207 


^ 

The  Soldier's  Revenge. 

"Roland!" 

For  a  moment  neither  could  speak. 

"Mabelle,  do  you  still  love  me  ?"  he  asked  at 
length. 

Her  color  came  and  went,  and  she  trembled 
with  emotion. 

"I  never  ceased  to  love  you,  Roland,"  she 
answered,  in  a  low  tone. 

He  trembled  so  he  could  scarcely  stand. 

"Then,  Mabelle,  my  darling,  loved  through 
it  all,"  he  cried,  "are  you  willing  to  give  your- 
self to  me  now?" 

She  smiled  and  lifted  her  eyes  to  his.  In 
their  blue  and  tender  depths  he  saw  shining  on 
him  the  unchangeable  love  of  a  lifetime.  In 
a  voice  clear  and  sweet  as  an  angelus  bell,  she 
said: 

"Roland,  my  heart's  beloved,  I  can  have  no 
greater  happiness  than  to  be  your  wife." 

He  held  her  tightly  clasped  to  his  wildly 
beating  heart,  and  kissed  her,  and  all  the  bit- 
terness of  the  past  was  forgotten. 

THE   END. 

208 


TELEGRAMS:    " WELLPRIIST,   NEW   YORK" 


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ANNOUNCEMENTS  OF   BOOKS 

nineteenth  edition 


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The  Abbey  Press  catalogue  includes  many  attractive  titles  of 
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AUTHORS  AND  ARTISTS 


Appleton,  George. 

Atherly,  Robert  Drew. 

Ayr,  Landis. 

Barnes,  Willis. 

Bartz,  U.  S. 

Borders,  Joe  H. 

Brooke,  Gregory. 

Brown,  Barnetta. 

Buffington,  T.  P. 

Burdick,  Lewis  Dayton. 

Burling,  Clinton  Osgood. 

Campbell,  William  M. 

Gary,  Katherine  Miles. 

Clark,  William  Adolphus. 

Clarke,  Albert  G.,  Jr. 

Clay,  John  M.,  Mrs. 

Clemens,  Will  M. 

Collins,  Wilkie. 

Cone,  John  A. 

Craddock,  Florence  N. 

Dean,  Howard. 

Delanoy,  M.  Frances  Hanford. 

Dickens,  Charles. 

Doubleday,  Stewart. 

Drummond,  Henry. 

Duxbury,  C.  Richmond,  Mrs. 

Edwards,  Almus  Hugh. 

ELshemus,  L.  M. 

Emmel,  May  C. 

Field,  Elaine  L. 

Flattery,  M.  Douglas. 

Fradenburgh,  J.  N. 

French,  Minnie  Reid. 

Fox,  Page. 

Gardner,  Etta  M. 


Gardner,  W.  H. 
Gordon,  A.  M.  R. 
Graham,  Marie. 
Green,  Benjamin  E. 
Greenleaf,  Sue. 
Greer,  Julian. 
Gregory,  Daniel  Seelye. 
Hamilton,  Sam  A. 
Hammond,  John  Hays. 
Harker,  Charles  R. 
Harkins,  James  W.,  Jr. 
Hartman,  L.  B. 
Hartshorn,  Mary  A. 
Hartt,  Irene  Widdemer. 
Hobson,  Margaret. 
Holmes,  Herbert. 
Hopkins,  Alphonso  Alva. 
Howard,  Lady  Constance. 
Hussey,  Cyrus  M. 
Hutchinson,  Warren  B. 
Jennings,  Edwin  B. 
Johnson,  Stanley  Edwards. 
Johnston,  Elizabeth  Bryant. 
Jokai,  Maurus. 
Kankakee,  James. 
Kaven,  E.  Thomas. 
Kearney,  Belle. 
Kellogg,  J. 
Kemble,  W.  Fretz. 
Lawrence,  William  V. 
Lay,  Wiliiam. 
Lee,  J.  F. 

Lindsay,  Clarence  M. 

Lormg,  Mattic  Batch. 

Love,  MargaretS. 


AUTHORS  AND  ARTISTS 


Mackin,  M. 

Macleod,  Warren  M. 

Mankowski,  DC,  Mary. 

Marie,  Rose. 

Martin,  Amarala. 

Martyn,  Carlos. 

Mcrimce,  Prosper. 

Middlcton,  E. 

Miller,  Andrew  J. 

Miller,  Lischcn  M. 

Milroy,  Elizabeth. 

Morris,  James  Edwin,  Mrs. 

Morris,  Moses  D. 

Muir,  Law. 

Munn,  Charles  Clark. 

Munyon,  Dora  Harvey. 

Muzzy,  Alice  M. 

Myth,  M.  Y.  T.  H. 

Napoliello,  R.  R. 

Niall,  Mical  Ui. 

Nicholl,  Edith  M. 

Ousley,  Clarence. 

Pacheco,  Mary. 

Palier,  Emile  A. 

Pierson,  Alice. 

Pomeroy,  Helen. 

Preston,  South  G. 

Pritchard,  Agnes  Camplcjohn. 

Raymond,  Walter  Marion. 

Ridcal,  Charles  F. 

Riggs,  Arthur  Stanley. 

Ripley,  N.  B. 

Rogers,  Charlotte  Boardman. 

Root,  Frederick  Stanley. 

Rose,  A.  McGregor. 

Roundy,  Alice  Miriam. 


Rowe,  C.  H. 

Runyan,  N.  P. 

Sawyer,  Nellie  Tolman. 

Scribner,  Kimball. 

Searle,  E.  W. 

Seltzer,  Charles  A. 

Simms,  Margaret  D. 

Shcppard,  Antoinette. 

Smirnow,  Louis. 

Smith,  Abbie  N. 

Stevenson,  Robert  Louis. 

Stewart,  M.  B. 

Stock-well,  George  A. 

Stone,  Isabel  Scott. 

Stormbrow,  Harold. 

Sutton,  Warner  P. 

Tabor,  Edward  A. 

Tobey,  Olive  C. 

Tolstoi,  Count. 

Valentine,  Jane. 

Van  Dyke,  Curti*. 

Van  Rensselaer,  J.  K.,  Mr*. 

Wahe,  Gertrude  MhchelL 

Walker,  Jessie. 

Walker,  Elliott. 

Warren,  H.  V. 

Weschcke,  Emil. 

Westervelt,  Leonidas. 

White,  Elizabeth  Stoughton  Gale. 

Williams,  Benjamin  W. 

Wilson,  Abbie  Oliver. 

Winbigler,  Charles  F. 

Winter,  C.  Gordon. 

Wright,  W.  H. 

Young,  Duncan  F. 

Young,  G.  L. 


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BOBTAIL  DIXIE. 

By  Abbie  N.  Smith.  Lovers  of  dogs  (and  their  name  is  legion) 
have  a  treat  in  this  book.  The  illustrations  which  accompany  it 
speak  as  often  and  as  loudly  as  the  dog  himself.  Cloth,  12010, 
profusely  illustrated.  One  Dollar. 

BRITANNIA?  OR,   THE   WHITE    QUEEN. 

By  the  Rev.  South  G.  Preston .  An  historical  novel  of  rare  power 
and  absorbing  interest,  dealing  with  Queen  Bess,  Lord  Bacon 
and  other  "high  mightinesses"  of  the  Elizabethan  era.  Cloth, 
i2tno.  One  Dollar. 

CANDLE  LIGHT,  A,  AND  OTHER  POEMS. 

By  Louis  Smirnow.  Poetry  that  appeals  to  the  heart.  Not  the 
kind  that  is  considered  classical  because  it  is  stuffed  with  mytho- 
logical subjects  and  with  names  of  forgotten  heroes.  This  pro- 
ceeds from  emotion  and  that  intensity  of  feeling  begotten  only  by 
experience,  either  direct  or  observed,  and  excites  the  same 
emotions  and  feelings  in  the  readers.  This  is  the  mission  of  true 
poetry.  Cloth.  One  Dollar. 

CAT   TALES   IN   VERSE. 

By  Elliot  Walker.  The  multitudinous  friends  (young  and  old)  of 
cats  will  welcome  in  this  book  an  absolutely  new  thing  under  the 
sun,  namely,  the  miaous  of  their  favorites  set  in  rhyme.  Owners 
of  cats  and  these  feline  animals  themselves  owe  this  author  a 
unanimous  vote  of  thanks.  The  verses  are  unique  and  admirably 
done.  Cloth,  with  cover  designed  by  C.  H.  Rowe.  Fifty  Cents. 

CAVALIER  POETS. 

By  Clarence  M.  Lindsay.  These  sketches  of  the  poets  of  England 
about  the  period  of  the  Commonwealth,  are  gems.  They  are  full 
enough  to  give  the  much  needed  information,  but  yet  so  brief  that 
they  may  be  read  with  ease.  Specimens  of  the  style  of  each 
are  given,  and  the  reader  in  an  hour  or  two  can  grasp  knowl- 
edge which  otherwise  he  cannot  gain  in  as  many  weeks  or  months. 
Cloth,  small  i2mo.  Fifty  Cents. 

CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  AND  KINDRED  SUPERSTITIONS. 
By  the  Rev.  Charles  F.  Winbigler.    Written  on  a  polemical  sub- 
ject, yet  in  a  kindly  spirit.   The  arraignment  of  Mrs.  Eddy  is  keen 
and  incisive,  and  the  basis  of  her  so-called  science  is  analyzed  and 
overthrown  with  great  good  humor,  but  with  remorseless  logic. 
The  best  popular  discussion  of  Christian    Science  now  in  the 
market.      Specially  commended  to  Church   people  and  Sunday 
School  librarians.    Cloth,  12010.    One  Dollar. 
6 


CHRIST'S   MESSAGE   TO   THE   CHURCHES. 

By  William  M.  Campbell.  Of  special  interest  to  Biblical  students. 
The  exegesis  is  exceedingly  clear  and  is  always  plausible,  even 
when  not  entirely  convincing.  New  light  is  thrown  on  old  difficul- 
ties. The  author  will  be  sure  of  attracting  thousands  of  interested 
readers.  Cloth,  12010,  170  pages.  One  Dollar. 

COALS    OF   FIRE. 

By  M.  Frances  Hanford  Delanoy.  Those  who  have  read  Mrs. 
Delanoy's  "Serious  Complications,"  as  well  as  those  who  have 
not,  will  eagerly  seize  upon  this  book.  It  is  equally  good  in  its 
way.  The  title  gives  the  key  to  the  contents  of  the  book,  which 
we  will  not  deprive  the  reader  of  the  pleasure  of  exploring  by  out- 
lining the  plot.  Cloth,  i2mo.  One  Dollar. 

CONCHITA'S   ANGELS. 

By  Agnes  Camplejohn  Pritchard.  The  first  sketch,  from  which 
the  book  takes  it  title,  deals  with  matters  incident  to  the  late  Cuban 
war,  patriotism,  suffering,  privation,  tragedy.  Pathos  and  humor 
are  combined  in  three  other  stories  which  go  to  make  up  the  book. 
Cloth,  izmo,  216  pages.  One  Dollar. 

CONSPIRACY   OF   YESTERDAY,  A. 

By  Mical  Ui  Niall.  This  story  would  please  the  Boers,  since  it. 
depicts  the  discomfiture  of  England  and  the  triumph  of  those  who 
hate  her.  It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that  it  is  only  a  story. 
England  still  survives.  Cloth,  12010,  daintily  produced,  75  pages. 
Fifty  Cents. 

CONTINENTAL   CAVALIER,   A. 

By  Kimball  Scribner.  Author  of  "  The  Honor  of  a  Princess " 
(twenty-third  thousand),  "The  Love  of  the  Princess  Alice  "  (fif- 
teenth thousand),  and  "  In  the  Land  of  the  Loon."  The  author 
writes  here  in  his  well-known  popular  style  and  contributes  one 
more  (and  not  the  least)  to  the  eagerly-awaited  historical  novels  of 
Revolutionary  times.  His  characters  are  resurrections  and  in 
them  the  past  lives  again.  Mr.  Kimball  Scribner  is  rapidly  be- 
coming one  of  the  most  popular  of  the  younger  writers  of  to-day. 
With  four  illustrations  on  copper.  Cloth,  121110,  258  pages.  One 
Dollar. 

CORDELIA  AND  OTHER  POEMS. 

By  N.  B.  Ripley.  These  verses  are  the  work  of  a  talented  and 
scholarly  clergyman,  who  has  followed  Sir  Philip  Sidney's  recipe 
for  poetry:  "  Look  into  thine  own  heart — and  write."  As  a  result, 
we  have  here  thoughts  that  breathe  and  words  that  burn.  Cloth, 
small  i2mo.  Fifty  Cents. 

7 


COUNCIL   OF   THREE,   THE. 

By  Charles  A.  Seltzer.  A  very  interesting  account  of  a  supposed 
adventure  in  a  romantic  part  of  the  world,  together  with  a  de- 
scription of  three  remarkable  characters  grouped  in  a  Council  and 
governing  an  idyllic  Commonwealth.  The  hero  comes  through 
safely  and  makes  friends  of  the  three  councillors  for  life,  thereby 
winning  a  fortune.  Cloth,  12010,  177  pages.  One  Dollar. 

COUNTRY   STORE  WINDOW,   A. 

By  Herbert  Holmes.  These  poems  ring  true.  They  describe  the 
thoughts  and  feelings  of  one  gazing  out  upon  life  as  through  a 
country  store  window.  The  moral  quality  of  the  poems  does  not 
detract  from,  but  rather  enhances,  their  interest  and  value  ;  while 
the  literary  form  is  unexceptionable.  Cloth,  i2mo.  One  Dollar. 

CRIME   OF   CHRISTENDOM,  THE. 

By  Daniel  Seelye  Gregory,  L.D.,  LL.D.  Here  the  Eastern  Ques- 
tion is  luminously  described  in  its  origin  and  development,  by  a 
master  mind.  It  is  by  far  the  ablest  and  fullest  discussion  of  the 
Turk  in  Europe  extant.  The  work  is  scholarly  and  interesting, 
with  photograph  and  biographical  sketch  of  the  author,  and  sev- 
eral maps.  Cloth,  i2mo,  330  pages.  $1.50. 

CROSS  OF  HONOR,  THE. 

By  Charles  F.  Rideal  and  C.  Gordon  Winter.  A  military  drama- 
lette  in  one  act.  The  period  is  that  of  the  Cuban  war;  the  scene, 
the  entrenchments  at  Santiago;  the  characters,  five  in  number,  are 
all  masculine  save  one,  who  is  a  hospital  nurse.  It  is  very  inter- 
esting and  moves  with  military  precision  from  the  ringing  up  to 
the  ringing  down  of  the  curtain.  Second  Edition.  Daintily 
printed  on  Japanese  paper  and  bound  in  stiff  boards.  One  Dollar. 

CURIOUS  CASE  OF  GENERAL  DELANEY  SMYTHE,  THE. 
By  W.  H.  Gardner,  Lieutenant-Colonel  U.  S.  A.  (retired).  Not  for 
many  years  has  a  more  interesting  or  mysterious  story  appeared 
than  this.  Those  who  follow  the  fortunes  of  General  Delaney 
Smythe  will  certainly  corroborate  this  statement.  The  book  will 
have  a  wide  and  permanent  sale.  With  four  illustrations  by  Miss 
Lowenstein.  Cloth,  i2mo,  specially  designed  cover,  204  pages, 
One  Dollar. 

DANGER   SIGNALS   FOR  NEW   CENTURY   MANHOOD. 

By  Edward  A.  Tabor.  Is  a  masterly  discussion  of  the  dangers 
that  confront  the  individual  as  well  as  the  society  of  to-day  in  the 
United  States.  It  is  also  a  beautiful  portraiture  of  the  young 
manhood  which  should  exist  in  the  aoth  century.  Including  pho- 
tograph and  biographical  sketch  of  the  author.  12010,  cloth  bound, 
316  pages.  One  Dollar. 

8 


DAYS    THAT    ARE   NO   MORE,   THE. 

By  Elizabeth  Bryant  Johnston.  These  are  stories  of  the  Old 
South.  The  author  depicts  scenes  and  characters  which  belong  to 
the  recent  past,  but  yet  which  seem  to  be  as  remote  as  the  days  of 
the  Crusades.  It  is  fortunate  that  those  familiar  with  "  Dixie  " 
before  the  war  yet  live  to  paint  it  before  it  fades  forever  out  of 
view.  Cloth,  xamo,  daintily  bound.  One  Dollar. 

DEFEATED,    BUT   VICTOR   STILL. 

By  Will" am  V.  Lawrence.  A  story  of  the  mysteries  of  New  Or- 
leans following  the  Civil  War  and  during  the  period  of  Recon- 
struction. Nothing  more  interesting  has  been  put  on  the  market 
for  a  long  time.  Second  Edition.  Cloth,  12010,  424  pages.  One 
Dollar. 

DEMOCRACY  AND  THE  TRUSTS. 

By  Edwin  B.  Jennings,  author  of  "People  and  Property."  The 
author  shows  that  there  is  an  irrepressible  conflict  between  these 
two.  They  are,  or  must  soon  be,  locked  in  a  deadly  conflict,  and 
if  one  is  to  survive,  the  other  must  perish.  Mr.  Jennings'  style  is 
trenchant,  and  his  arraignment  of  trusts  in  the  interest  of  democ- 
racy must  be  read  to  be  appreciated.  Cloth,  65  pages.  Fifty 
Cents. 

DEVOUT   BLUEBEARD,    A. 

By  Marie  Graham.  This  is  a  keen,  satirical  story  which  hits  off 
foibles  and  humbugs  in  religious  administration;  not  in  an  infidel 
spirit,  but  by  a  friendly  hand  and  from  the  inside ;  one  is  kept 
guessing  who's  who.  Cloth,  i2mo,  300  pages.  One  Dollar. 

DOCTOR  JOSEPHINE. 

By  Willis  Barnes.  A  charming  love  story,  interwoven  with  hints 
and  suggestions  as  to  how  to  harmonize  the  warring  interests  of 
capital  and  labor.  The  author  thinks  the  secret  of  union  lies  in 
profit  sharing.  Cloth,  i2mo.  One  Dollar. 

DOCTRINE   OF   THE   BOOK   OF  ACTS,   THE. 

By  G.  L.  Young.  The  work  of  a  scholarly  and  competent  clergy- 
man, who  writes  in  a  bright,  unsectarian  spirit,  throwing  light 
into  every  dark  corner  of  this  important  portion  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. Men  and  women  of  all  creeds  will  find  here  a  careful  and 
suggestive  dissection  of  the  teachings  of  the  apostles  in  the  for- 
mative period  of  the_  Christian  Church.  Seco 
izmo.  One  Dollar. 

9 


DIABOLICAL  IN  SCRIPTURE  AND  IN  HUMAN  LIFE,  THE. 
By  Harold  Stormbrow,  D.D.,  LL.D.  A  curious  discussion  of  the 
existence,  personality  and  activity  of  Satan  as  he  appears  in  Holy 
Writ  and  in  history,  together  with  the  opinions  of  eminent  men  in 
all  walks  of  life,  concerning  his  attributes  and  real  character. 
Cloth,  8vo.  Limited  edition.  Ten  Dollars.  (In  preparation.) 

DIP  IN  THE  POOL,  A.— (Bethesda.) 

"The  Whole  World  is  Aweary."  "Be  Refreshed  and  Better." 
By  Barnetta  Brown.  Our  manner  of  thinking  about  matters  and 
things  has  much  more  to  do  with  our  success  and  happiness  than 
is  usually  admitted,  and  the  little  Bethesda  Book  seeks  to  suggest 
a  train  of  thought  which  will  refresh  life's  oft-time  weary  traveler. 
What  more  refreshing  to  the  body  than  a  dip  in  cool,  cleansing 
water?  So  to  the  mind,  strained,  tired  and  puzzled,  there  pis 
nothing  more  refreshing  than  a  dip  in  a  pool  of  freshening, 
strengthening,  cleansing  thought ;  and  this  pool  of  clean  thought 
this  Sunshine  Book  makes  a  modest  attempt  to  provide  in  one  of  the 
"  Sunshine  Books  "  which  has  the  endorsement  of  the  International 
Sunshine  Society.  Cloth  (Miniature),  daintily  produced.  Twen- 
ty-five Cents.  The  set  of  Six,  $1.50. 

DOOMED  TURK,  THEj 

or.  The  End  of  the  Eastern  Question.  By  E.  Middleton.  An  in- 
teresting and  striking  discussion  of  the  Eastern  Question.  It 
is  a  timely  book.  The  eyes  of  the  world  are  fastened  upon  the 
Orient,  and  what  to  do  with  the  Chinaman  in  the  far  East  and 
with  the  Turk  in  the  nearer  East  are  the  questions  of  the  hour. 
The  author' s  suggested  method  of  handling  the  latter  question 
is  as  unique  as  it  is  original.  Cloth.  Fifty  Cents. 

EXPERIENCE. 

'•  How  to  Take  It :  How  to  Make  It."  By  Barnetta  Brown.  This 
booklet  contains  the  secret  many  have  been  trying  to  discover, 
more  or  less  consciously,  for  a  long  time  ;  and  it  is  believed  that  if 
the  method  of  taking  experience,  set  forth,  is  faithfully  followed, 
it  will  lead  to  a  great  deal  of  happiness,  and  la'.er  on  to  a  certain 
and  satisfactory  way  of  making  it.  The  unreasonable  appear- 
ance of  experience  is  made  to  assume  its  real  and  true  propor- 
tions; and  all  who  read  it  will  see  that  reason  instead  of  chaos, 
orderly  sequence  instead  of  disorder,  in  all  forms  of  experience 
once  duly  appreciated  as  truth,  will  change  darkness  into  bright- 
ness. One  of  the  "  Sunshire  Books"  which  has  the  endorsement 
of  the  International  Sunshine  Society.  Cloth  (Miniature),  daintily 
produced.  Twenty-five  Cents.  The  set  of  Six,  $1.50. 

10 


FEATHER'S    WEIGHT,  A. 

By  Amarala  Martin.  This  is  a  story  of  mystery — one  o£  those 
breathless  tales  which  hold  the  attention  from  the  start  to  the 
finish.  Unlike  some  of  them,  it  ends  as  the  reader  would  have  it 
do,  and  at  the  close  all  goes  merry  as  the  marriage  bell.  Second 
Edition.  Cloth,  small  i2mo,  131  pages.  Fifty  Cents. 

FIGHTING   AGAINST    FATE. 

By  Moses  D.  Morris.  An  exciting  and  true  story,  more  dramatic 
than  a  drama.  Those  who  like  a  blood-curdling,  hair-raising  nar- 
rative which  has  the  advantage  of  being  fact  instead  of  fiction,  are 
recommended  to  buy  this  book.  A  large  sale  is  already  assured. 
Cloth,  i2mo,  260  pages,  with  one  hundred  striking  illustrations. 
One  Dollar. 

FLOWER   OF   THE   TROPICS,  A, 

And  Other  Stories  of  Mexico  and  the  Border.  By  Warner  P. 
Sutton.  This  author,  a  distinguished  diplomat  and  lawyer,  who 
was  also  Consul-General  in  Mexico  for  ten  years,  gives  in  this 
work  a  number  of  extremely  interesting  sketches  of  Mexican  and 
Border  life.  The  stories  are  saturated  with  the  Spanish  spirit  and 
with  the  genius  of  the  localities  described.  Cloth,  12010,  121  pages, 
daintily  printed  and  bound.  One  Dollar. 

FOUNDATION   RITES. 

By  Lewis  Dayton  Burdick.  The  rites  and  ceremonies  prevalent 
among  barbarous  and  semi-barbarous  peoples  are  reproduced  in 
a  modified  form  in  all  the  higher  civilizations.  In  this  masterly 
work,  the  author  traces  the  relations  between  the  primitive  be- 
ginnings and  the  later  evolutions.  Mr.  Burdick  has  amassed  a 
great  treasure  of  facts  and  illustrations  which  he  makes  both 
interesting  and  instructive.  Cloth,  12010.  $1.50. 

FROM   CLOUDS   TO   SUNSHINE  j 

or.  The  Evolution  of  a  Soul.  By  E.  Thomas  Kaven.  Author  of 
"A  Duel  of  Wits,"  etc.  Those  who  enjoy  a  luminous  discussion 
of  current  questions  relating  to  the  origin  and  age  of  man,  etc., 
conducted  in  a  most  finished  manner,  will  find  a  treat  in  this  vol- 
ume. It  is  full  of  snap,  vim  and  good  humor.  Cloth,  izmo,  182 
pages.  One  Dollar. 

FROM  THE  FOUR  WINDS. 

By  Warren  B.  Hutchinson.  These  poems  are  vigorous  produc- 
tions, full  of  power,  and  throb  with  true  poetic  feeling.  The  poet 
touches  upon  many  themes  within  a  small  space,  and  always  sug- 
gestively as  well  as  melodiously.  Cloth,  small  12010.  Fifty  Cents, 

it 


GLOBE    MUTINY,    THE. 

By  William  Lay,  of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  and  Cyrus  M.  Hussey,  of 
Nantucket,  the  only  survivors  from  the  massacre  of  the  ship's 
company  by  the  natives.  A  narrative  of  the  mutiny  on  board  the 
ship  "  Globe,"  of  Nantucket,  in  the  Pacific  Ocean,  January,  1824, 
and  the  journal  of  a  residence  of  two  years  on  the  Mulgrave 
islands,  with  observations  on  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  in- 
habitants. A  most  entertaining  reprint  of  a  work  published  in 
1828.  This  book  is  a  cross  between  one  of  Russell  Clark's  sea 
stories  and  "  Robinson  Crusoe."  It  deals  with  a  real  case  of  mu- 
tiny and  the  narrative  is  entrancing.  It  will  be  read  with  ab- 
sorbing interest  by  all  lovers  of  sea  stories.  Cloth,  izmo,  163 
pages.  Seventy-five  Cents. 

GREAT   BREAD   TRUST,   THE. 

By  W.  H.  Wright.  This  booklet  paints  a  supposed  trust  in  bread, 
after  the  example  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  and  which  is 
owned  and  managed  by  a  little  group  of  multi-millionaires.  Al- 
though the  case  is  supposed,  it  outlines  a  condition  of  things 
which  may  well  be  apprehended  and  sounds  a  note  of  alarm  in 
advance.  Cloth,  Miniature  Series,  54  pages.  Fifty  Cents. 

GREATEST   THING   IN   THE   WORLD,   THE. 

By  Henry  Drummond.  Cloth,  with  photograph  and  biographical 
sketch  of  the  author.  Fifty  Cents. 

GREEN   VALLEY. 

By  T.  P.  Buffington.  Opening  with  a  robbery,  this  novel  ends 
with  a  marriage.  Between  the  starting  point  and  the  end,  a 
variety  of  interesting  and  exciting  episodes  are  found.  The  scene 
is  laid  in  the  South  and  characteristic  occurrences  are  related. 
The  moral  is  wholesome  and  the  hero  and  heroine  are  happy  at  last, 
as  they  deserve  to  be.  Cloth,  i2mo,  151  pages.  One  Dollar. 

HALF  HOUR    STORIES. 

By  Dora  Harvey  Munyon.  The  stories  are  admirably  told  and 
each  successive  one  seems  a  little  better  than  the  previous  tale. 
The  author  writes  with  remarkable  insight  and  describes  life  with 
rare  fidelity.  Cloth,  izmo,  148  pages.  One  Dollar. 

HANDFUL  OF   RHYMES,   A. 

By  Lischen  M.  Miller.  This  book  of  poems  has  an  interest  through 
the  unusual  merit  of  the  verses.  It  is  often  said  that  this  is  not  a 
poetical  age,  but  the  singer  of  to-day  finds  sufficient  material  and 
readers  enough  to  make  it  clear  that  the  question  is  open  to  debate. 
Cloth,  lamo.  $1.50. 

1$ 


HEART'S  DESIRE.   THE. 

"  The  Moth  for  the  Star ;  The  Night  for  the  Morrow."  By  Bar- 
netta  Brown.  That  there  is  really  only  one  Desire,  this  Sunshine 
Book  contends;  that  all  desire  can  be  truly  and  lastingly  satisfied 
in  our  life,  in  other  than  the  way  it  indicates,  this  little  book 
denies.  Some  may  not  agree  at  once ;  but,  sooner  or  later,  the 
chord  in  the  heart  will  be  touched,  and  in  the  vibration  will  be 
caught  the  echo  of  "  Home,  Sweet  Home."  To  read  it,  is  finally 
to  believe.  To  believe,  is  to  work  towards  the  end  in  view.  To 
reach  this  is  the  consummation  and  the  height  of  earthly  happi- 
ness. One  of  the  "Sunshine  Books"  which  has  the  endorsement 
of  the  International  Sunshine  Society.  Cloth  (Miniature),  dainti- 
ly produced.  Twenty-five  Cents.  The  set  of  Six,  $1.50. 

HEROINE  OF   SANTIAGO,   THE » 

or,  What  Followed  the  Sinking  of  the  Merrimac.  By  Antoinette 
Sheppard.  One  of  the  very  best  of  the  many  stories  suggested  by 
the  Spanish- American  war.  The  heroine  is  a  lovable  creature  and 
after  passing  through  many  adventures — but  we  will  not  reveal 
the  de"noument.  There  is  not  a  dull  page  in  the  whole  book. 
Cloth,  i2mo.  One  Dollar. 

HOCH   DER  KAISER. 

Myself  und  Gott.  By  A.  McGregor  Rose  (A.  M.  R.  Gordon). 
This  is  the  remarkable  poem,  which  made  a  sensation  in  two  hemi- 
spheres, and  the  recital  of  which  by  an  American  naval  officer  at  a 
dinner  nearly  cost  him  his  captaincy  and  embroiled  the  United 
States  with  Germany.  It  is  here  presented  with  appropriate  and 
striking  original  illustrations  by  Miss  Jessie  A.  Walker.  It  is  a 
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15 


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MAGISTRACY,   THE. 

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MAN  WITHOUT   THE  OATH,   THE. 

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MISTAKES   OF  AUTHORS,   THE. 

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MISTRESS   OF   MANY   MOODS,    A. 

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NEW  SWISS   FAMILY   ROBINSON,   THE. 

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OLD   GRAHAM   PLACE,   THE. 

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PAIR   OF   KNAVES   AND    A  FEW  TRUMPS,   A. 

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PACIFIC   COAST   VACATION,  A. 

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PEOPLE   AND   PROPERTY. 

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PHARAOH. 

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PRIEST   AND   A   WOMAN,  A. 

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PRINCE   OF   THE   EAST,  A. 

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PUPPET    SHOW,  THE. 

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QUAKER   SCOUT,   A. 

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QUEEN   OF   APPALACHIA,  THE. 

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21 


RACE  WITH  A  HURRICANE,  A. 

By  Alice  Miriam  Roundy.  The  story  which  gives  the  title  to  this 
book  is  of  the  hurricane  order  and  blows  the  heroine  into  a  port  of 
peace  at  last.  The  other  stories  making  up  the  volume  are  all 
equally  interesting  and  concern  various  topics.  Considerable  ver- 
satility is  shown  by  the  author.  Cloth,  small  i2mo,  101  pages. 
Fifty  Cents. 

ROMANCE   AND   ROME. 

By  Almus  Hugh  Edwards.  This  is  a  booklet  which  gives  in  a 
small  compass  a  vast  deal  of  interesting  information  regarding 
the  Eternal  City,  past  and  present.  The  descriptive  parts  are 
strung  together  on  a  delighttul  thread  of  romance  in  the  shape  of 
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ROMANCE   IN   MEDITATION,   A. 

By  Elaine  L.  Fie>.d.  A  dainty  and  charming  portraiture  of  a  maid- 
en's ideal  evolved  in  a  series  of  meditations,  only  to  be  rudely 
shattered  at  last.  The  book  is  unique  both  in  conception  and  in 
execution.  Cloth,  small  i2mo.  Fifty  Cents. 

REPUBLIC   OF   AMERICA,   THE. 

By  L.  B.  Hartman.  A  timely  work,  full  of  patriotic  inspiration. 
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tant power  and  shows  that  good  soldiers  are  indispensable 
factors  of  aggressive  civilization.  In  view  of  the  recent  Spanish- 
American  war,  of  the  situation  in  the  Philippines  and  of  the  dis- 
turbance in  China,  no  book  ,  could  be  more  timely.  Second  Edi- 
tion. Cloth,  i2mo,  116  pages.  Fifty  Cents. 

SECRET   OF   HAMLET,  THE. 

By  the  Rev.  South  G.  Preston.  An  intensely  interesting  analysis 
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SERIOUS   COMPLICATIONS. 

By  M.  Frances  Hanford  Delanoy.  This  book  is  a  rollicking  com- 
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possibilities  are  unbounded.  Indeed,  it  Las  been  produced  as  a 
comedy  and  lends  itself  to  such  treatment  in  every  sentence.  The 
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SHADOW   OF   THE   KING,  THE. 

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SHAKESPEARE  AND  GOETHE  ON  GRESHAM'S  LAW   AND 

THE  SINGLE  GOLD  STANDARD. 

By  Benjamin  E.  Green.  This  is  a  suggestive  work  in  which  the 
historian,  the  statesman, the  politician,  the  banker,  the  business  man 
and  working  man  will  find  much  food  for  thought,  mixed  with 
some  refreshing  gossip  for  the  general  reader. 

SINGULAR   SINNER,   A. 

By  Charles  R.  Harker.  The  alliterative  title  of  this  novel  is  sig- 
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man robber,  whose  adventures  are  as  romantic  as  those  of  Dick 
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SLAVEHOLDER'S   DAUGHTER,   A. 

By  Belle  Kearney.  Full  of  Southern  life  and  character,  and  read- 
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SOCIAL   SINNERS. 

A  realistic  novel  of  to-day.  By  Emile  A.  Palier.  Portrays  a  num- 
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SOUL  GROWTH. 

"To  Become  or  Not  to  Become;  That  is  Your  Question."  By 
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the  ancient  order.  To  BE  is  the  greater  and  the  later  endeavor. 
"Soul  Growth  "  indicates  a  way  by  which  people  may  become. 
The  way  may  have  been  mentioned  before,  but  this  little  book 
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story.  Applied  closely  to  everyday  life,  the  thought  of  this  book 
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23 


SOLDIER'S  REVENGE,  THE  > 

or,  Roland  and  Wilfred.  By  Florence  N.  Craddock.  This  is  a 
novel  which  describes  cadet  life  at  West  Point  in  a  most  realistie 
and  entertaining  manner.  In  these  military  days,  when  wars  and 
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SOME   PEOPLE   WE   MEET. 

By  Charles  F.  Rideal.  A  series  of  brightly  written  character 
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Golfs,"  "Won  Lung  Lee,"  "The  Rev.  Hiram  B.  Montgomery," 
"Jackie,"  "BobToughun,"  "A  City  'Gent,'  "  "Mr.  Levi Vinder- 
menderheimer,"  "Mr.  Tammany  Todd,"  "Mr.  Sempronious 
Yardly,"  "Mr.  Dick  Drummerton,"  "Mrs.  Whirlingay  Whiz." 
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SOUR    SAINTS   AND   SWEET   SINNERS. 

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the  inside  with  a  pen  borrowed  from  Dean  Swift.  Third  Edition. 
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STRANGER,  THE. 

By  Mattie  Balch  Loring.  These  dainty  verses  show  decided  poetic 
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STUDIES   IN  ESCHATOLOGY. 

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SUNSHINE    BOOKS. 

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24 


SWEETBR1ER. 

By  L.  M.  Elshemus.  A  story  of  sentimental  and  artistic  interest. 
The  hero  has  the  soul  of  a  poet  and  his  verses  are  scattered 
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TEMPER   CURE,   THE. 

By  Stanley  Edwards  Johnson.  In  the  guise  of  a  novel,  the  author 
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TEN  YEARS  IN  COSSACK  SLAVERY. 

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Siberia  for  loving  his  country  "not  wisely  but  too  well."  The 
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gives  the  reasons  therefore.  Cloth,  230  pages,  f  1.25. 

TOBACCO   SMOKE. 

By  Clarence  Ousley.  These  verses,  written  in  various  moods  and 
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and  are  the  outcome  of  its  inspiration.  Every  devotee  of  Nicotine, 
when  bowing  at  that  shrine,  will  use  this  dainty  book  as  a  litany. 
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TOM   HUSTON'S   TRANSFORMATION. 

By  Margaret  B.  Love.  This  is  the  story  of  a  man  who  was  jilted, 
and,  as  a  result,  became  a  drummer  instead  of  a  lawyer,  but  who. 
later  meeting  the  right  woman,  was  redeemed,  regenerated  and 
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THROUGH  STRESS  AND  STORM. 

By  Gregory  Brooke.  A  strong,  vigorous  delineation  of  the  tender 
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far  superior  to  him  in  decision  of  character  and  is  a  lovable  creation 
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35 


TRANSVAAL   TROUBLE,  THE. 

By  John  Hays  Hammond.  An  American  view  of  the  British- 
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whereof  he  speaks.  Cloth.  Twenty-five  Cents. 

TRAVELS  OF  A  WATER  DROP,  THE. 

By  Mrs.  James  Edwin  Morris.  Is  a  volume  of  sketches,  studies 
from  nature.  The  travels  and  adventures  of  this  particular 
Water  Drop  are  so  interestingly  written  that  it  ought  to  occupy  a 
prominent  place  in  children's  classics.  Each  sketch  in  the  book  is 
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little  volume  is  recommended  to  nature  lovers.  Cloth,  small  izmo. 
Fifty  Cents. 

TRIPLE   FLIRTATION,  A. 

By  L.  M.  Elshemus.  This  author  is  a  prominent  artist  as  well  as 
a  literary  man.  The  illustrations  alone  are  worth  more  than  the 
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TWENTY-FIVE   MINUTES   WITH   PALMISTRY. 

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TWO   MEN   AND   SOME   WOMEN. 

By  Walter  Marion  Raymond.  Two  contrasting  characters  are 
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VNCLE  PHIL. 

By  Mrs.  John  M.  Clay.  A  Southern  story,  strong  and  absorbing. 
It  describes  the  devotion  of  an  old  darkey  "  uncle  "  to  the  person 
and  fortune  of  the  heroine,  who  has  a  hard  time  of  it,  but  who  is 
at  last  brought  safely  to  the  shore  largely  through  the  self-sacri- 
ficing exertions  of  this  faithful  retainer.  Second  and  Re-vised 
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26 


UNO  WHO. 

By  Elizabeth  Stoughton  White.  A  unique  novel  whose  characters 
are  wholly  original.  The  scenes  are  laid  partly  here  and  partly 
abroad,  while  a  charming  love  story  runs  through  the  tale,  unify- 
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VENGEANCE  OF    THE   MOB,    THE. 

By  Sam  A.  Hamilton.  An  exciting  story  of  Florida,  in  which  the 
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pages.  One  Dollar. 

VERANA. 

By  Emil  Weschcke.  A  novel  descriptive  of  adventures  on  the 
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WANTED— A    MAN. 

By  Robert  Drew  Atherly.  A  charming  story  charmingly  told. 
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WHAT  IS  THE  MATTER  WITH  THE  CHURCH  ? 

By  Frederick  Stanley  Root.  Mr.  Root  seems  to  have  borrowed 
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spirit.  While  sharply  indicating  the  traditional  Church,  he  shows 
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WHEN   AT   HOME   AND   SOCIETY   GUIDE. 

Giving  Days  when  "At  Home  "  of  the  Upper  Classes.  Compiled 
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the  Etiquette  of  Calls  and  Calling,  by  Lady  Constance  Howard. 
Each  Season.  (In  preparation.) 

WIDOW  ROBINSON,  THE,  AND  OTHER  SKETCHES. 

By  Benjamin  W.  Williams.     These  sketches,   the  first  of  which 
gives  the  title  of  the  book,  are  admirable  silhouettes  of  experience 
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27 


WHITE   MAN'S    CHANCE,   THE. 

By  Abbie  Oliver  Wilson.  In  view  of  the  continued  lynchings  in 
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WITH   A   POLICEMAN   IN   SOUTH   AFRICA. 

By  E.  W.  Searle.  A  true  narrative  of  personal  experiences  in 
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novel.  The  strange  and,  until  recently,  unknown  country  herein 
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WOMAN'S  REVENGE,  A. 

By  Law  Muir.  This  is  a  love  story,  with  lurid  accompaniments, 
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drawn.  The  young  wife,  soon  widowed,  is  betrayed  by  a  wealthy 
rascal,  upon  whom  she  wreaks  her  vengeance.  She  is  revenged, 
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WORRY   AND   CHEER. 

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wanderers  along  life's  pathway.  Only  too  often  are  they  met 
with,  discouraged,  dejected,  sore  of  foot  and  bruised  in  heart 
The  author,  firmly  believing  that  to  make  this  journey  a  dismal 
one,  is  a  very  mistaken  proceeding,  as  well  as  a  very  unnecessary 
one,  endeavors  to  point  out  an  agreeable  and  pleasant  route.  The 
broad  gauge  road  of  pleasantness,  cheer  and  courage  is  recom- 
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ADDENDA. 

ARICKAREE  TREASURE,  THE. 

By  Albert  G.  Clarke,  Jr.  A  mining-  story  of  great  power  and  in- 
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AT  THE  TEMPLE  GATES. 

By  G.  Stewart  Doubleday.  These  are  songs  partly  of  the  heart 
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AUNT  LUCY'S  CABIN. 

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BY  THEIR  FRUITS. 

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CITY  BOYS'  LIFE   IN  THE  COUNTRY? 

or,  Howard  and  Weston  at  Bedford.  By  Clinton  Osgood  Burling. 
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the  odor  of  the  violets  and  wood  anemones  along  the  banks  of  the 
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DAUGHTER  OF  THE  PROPHETS,  A. 

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DOLINDA  AND  THE  TWINS. 

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ADDENDA. 

EGYPTIAN  RING,  THE. 

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EVERYDAY  CHILDREN. 

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LITTLE  CRUSADERS.  THE. 

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and  countermarches  of  the  Little  Crusaders.  The  author's  style 
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MUSICAL  REFORMATION,  A. 

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follies.  Twenty-five  Cents. 

REALITY  AND  OTHER  POEMS. 

By  Duncan  F.  Young.  The  author  of  this  volume  is  known 
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THREE  FAIR  PHILANTHROPISTS. 

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WHAT  WILL  SHE  DO? 

By  Margaret  D.  Simms.  This  is  a  Southern  story  of  rare  in- 
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WORKS  BY  THE  REV.  SOUTH  G.  PRESTON,  Ph.D. 


BRITANNIA?  OR,  THE  WHITE  QUEEN. 

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KEY-WORDS  AND  PHRASES  OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

A  very  important  and  suggestive  help  in  the  study  of  the  New 

Testament.     Instead  of  having  to  search  these  out  for  himself,  the 

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is  a  great  labor  saver.    Second  Edition.    Cloth,  12010.    One  Dollar. 

"  Even  in  the  region  of  that  which  is  familiar  to  scholars,  he 

has  shed  much  light."— /»<?./.  Tyer^  D.D. 

THE  PSYCHOLOGY  OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

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THE  SECRET  OF  HAMLET. 

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and  unusual.    Fourth  Edition.    Cloth,  i2mo.    One  Dollar. 
"An  entertaining  book." — Boston  Globe. 

THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  KING. 

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successful  way  spirituality  and  interest — one  of  the  most  difficult 
things  to  do.     It  leaves  a  sweet   taste   in  the  mouth.     Second 
Edition.    Cloth,  izmo.    One  Dollar. 
"A  real  story."—  The  Critic. 

THE  ABBEY  PRESS,  Publishers,  114  5th  Avenue,  New  York 


SUNSHINE    BOOKS 

They  are  daiaxOy  prwKd,  aad  are  bo«Ml  n  ckNh. 
Each  hook  is  Tweuy-five  Certs,  awl  the  whole 
set  of  Six.  i»  *  Meat  case,  O«*  Dollar  awl  a  Half. 

EXPERIENCE 

HpHIS  booklet  contacts  the  MOT*  many  bare  been  trying  to  discover, 
more  or  less  consciously,  for  a  longtime;  and  it  is  befieved  that  if 
the  method  of  tmktmg  experience,  set  forth,  is  faithfully  foHowed,  k 

win  lead  to  a  great  deal  of  happiness,  and  later  on  to  a  certain  and  satis- 


a  great 
factory  way  of  making  ft. 

SOUL   GROWTH 

rfv>  ^ft««  ffi^  P^T-^  ^"g  afrrtf  tf*f  f  T^ftriffg  *^  t^*y  ^•^•'fTit  order.    To 
Be  is  the  greater  and  the  later  endeavor.     "Soul  Growth"  in- 
dicates a  way  by  which  people  may  become.    The  way  may  have 
been  mentioned  before,  but  this  fittie  book  brings  home  to  as  once  more, 
in  very  simple  fashion,  an  old,  old  story.    Applied  closely  to  the  every- 
day life,  the  thought  of  this  book  win  bring  into  this  gray  old  world 
more  real  sunshine  than  it  has  ever  yet  seen. 
THE   HEART'S    DESIRE 

THAT  there  is  really  only  one  desire,  this  Sunshine  Book  contends; 
that  aO  desire  can  be  truly  and  lastingly  satisfied  in  our  fife,  m 


other  than  the  way  it  indicates,  this  fittie  book  denies.  Some 
may  not  agree  at  once;  bat,  sooner  or  bter,  the  chord  in  the  heart  win 
be  touched  and  in  the  vibration  win  be  caught  the  echo  of  "  Home, 
Sweet  Home." 

MEN,    WOMEN    AND   LOVING 

MEN  think  they  know  all  about  loving  and  so  do  women  ;  bat  judg- 
ing from  the  0f  •*•"•*  appearance  of  loving  and  its  often  unsatis- 
fying results,  some  things  in  regard  to  it  have  apparently  been 
forgotten,  or,  for  some  unaccountable  reason,  hidden  deeply  away.    Re- 
minders are  useful,  on  occasion,  and  a  gentle  jog  of  die  elbow  sometimes 
saves  one  from  falling  into  error  ;  and  if  this  Stile  book  serves  the  pur- 
pose of  straightening  out  a  jumble  in  any  aflair  of  the  heart,  or  leads  man 
or  woman  to  a  true,  brave  thought  of  loving,  it  win  have  made  its  excuse 
for  existence. 

WORRY    AND    CHEER 

THIS  little  book  cheerfully  undertakes  to  encourage  the  wanderers 
along  life's  pathway.     Only  too  often  are  they  met  with,  discour- 
aged, dejected,   sore  of  foot  and  bruised  in  heart.    To  make  this 
journey  a  dismal   one  fa  a  very  mistaken  proceeding,  as  well  as  a  very 
unnecessary  one,  and  "Worry  and  Cheer'*  endeavors  to  point  out  an 
agreeable  and  pleasant  route. 
A    DIP    IN    THE    POOL   (BetKesda.) 

OUR  manner  of  thinking  about  matters  and  things  has  much  more  to 
do  with  our  success  and  happiness  than  is  usually  admitted,  and 
the  little  Bethesda  Book  seeks  to  suggest  a  train  of  thought  which 
win  refresh  life's  oft-time  weary  traveler.    What  more  refreshing  to  the 
body  than  a  dip  in  the  cool,  cleansing  water  ? 

THE  ABBEY  PRESS,  Publishers,  114  5th  Avenue,  New  York 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FAC1UTY 


A    000032171     1 


